Nov. 10, 2008
2008 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Bracket 
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The NCAA Women's Soccer Championship field was announced on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN News. The (15-4-2) University of Memphis women's soccer team meets the (11-8-1) University of Illinois in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship at Audrey J. Walton Track and Soccer Complex in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 14 at 4:00 p.m.
The No. 4 seed in the North Carolina Region is The University of Missouri who will be serving as host for the first two rounds of Memphis' second NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 14 and Sunday Nov. 16. The Lady Tigers go head to head with the Illinois Fighting Illini for the first time on Friday, Nov. 14 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner faces either host Missouri or Evansville in the second round match on Sunday, Nov. 16.
This is the first time that the Memphis women's soccer team has faced any Big Ten opponent. Illinois finished fifth in Big Ten regular season play and were eliminated in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 5 seed by No. 4 seed Michigan State. In 2008, the Fighting Illini are 1-1 versus C-USA opponents. UCF defeated the Illini 2-0, but Illinois beat Colorado College 2-0 at home.
This is Illinois' eighth trip to the NCAA Championship in the past nine years and sixth year in a row. In 2007 the Illini lost to eventual College Cup participant Notre Dame 2-0 in the second round.
The Memphis squad was crowned Conference USA Tournament champions for the second year in a row on Sunday after beating East Carolina 4-1 in the C-USA Championship game. The Lady Tigers who are 15-4-2 following the conference tournament, receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. This year's team accomplishments include a 2008 C-USA regular season co-championship, and a 2008 C-USA Tournament championship.
In 2007, the 2008 C-USA Champion Lady Tigers were defeated by UNC Greensboro in the opening round of the NCAA Championship by a 1-0 score. This is the second ever NCAA Championship appearance in a row by the Memphis squad.
