Blackbirds to Take on Texas in Opening Round of Women's Soccer College Cup

11/6/06 -- The Long Island University women’s soccer team will travel to Storrs, Conn. on Friday, Nov. 10 for the opening round of the 2006 Women’s College Cup where they will take on top-seeded Texas. The Blackbirds captured the Northeast Conference title with a 2-0 win over Monmouth on Nov. 5 to earn an automatic bid into the field of 64.

Joining Long Island and Texas in the four-team opening-round bracket are Columbia and host Connecticut. Texas was one of four teams to earn a No. 1 seed. The Longhorns (17-3-2), who were ranked ninth in the nation in the NCAA’s Oct. 31 poll, defeated Colorado on penalty kicks on Sunday to earn the Big 12 Championship. The Blackbirds (13-7-1) will meet Texas for the first time in program history.

This is the second trip to the NCAA Tournament in the 10-year history of the Long Island women’s soccer program. After winning the NEC title in 1999, the Blackbirds defeated Southwest Texas State in the play-in game before falling to Maryland in the NCAA Tournament.

The second round of Long Island’s bracket of the College Cup will also take place at UConn, on Sunday, Nov. 12. Game times have yet to be announced.