PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship begins on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a pair of first-round matchups.
 
Third-seeded UCF hosts No. 6 seed Houston, while Cincinnati, seeded fourth, entertains fifth-seeded SMU. Both matches are scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern starts. Top seed Memphis and second-seeded USF earned byes into the semifinals. The semifinals and finals will be hosted by Memphis.

In the previous matchups this season, UCF defeated Houston, 3-0, on Oct. 6 in Houston, while Cincinnati picked up a 1-0 victory at SMU on Oct. 17 in Dallas.
 
The tournament features a single-elimination format with the first round on Sunday, Nov. 3. Memphis will host the semifinals on Nov. 7 and the final on Nov. 10. The semifinals will be streamed live on the American Digital Network, while the final will air live on ESPNU. The tournament champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.
 
Memphis captured its first regular season title and is unbeaten in its last 15 matches. The Tigers are led by Clarissa Larisey, who is second in The American with 15 goals and 34 points, Stasia Mallin, who leads the league with 12 assists, and Elizabeth Moberg, who has 10 shutouts this season in goal.
 
USF is led by Evelyne Viens, who leads the conference with 16 goals and 35 points, and Andrea Hauksdottir, who has seven assists.
 
UCF is anchored by Caroline DeLisle, who is second in the conference in GAA (0.50), save percentage (.852) and shutouts with nine.
 
Cincinnati is led by Madison Less, who has eight shutouts on the season, third-most in the conference.
 
SMU’s 1-2 attack of Allie Thornton (12 goals, 26 points) and Celiana Torres (5 goals, 8 assists) ranks third and tied for fourth in The American, respectively.
 
Houston had a resurgence during the course of the season, winning three of four after dropping its first four conference matches of the year, to earn the No. 6 seed.

Memphis won the 2018 championship, defeating USF, 3-0, for its first title. The Bulls won the previous year, while Cincinnati (2015) and UCF (2013) are also looking for their second American championship.
 
Live coverage will be available throughout the championship at TheAmerican.org and on the conference’s social media platforms @American_WSoc on Twitter and AmericanConf on Facebook.
 
2019 American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship
 
Sunday, Nov. 3 – First Round
Game 1: No. 6 Houston (6-13-0) at No. 3 UCF (10-3-4) – 1 p.m. Eastern - Video Link - Live Stats
Game 2: No. 5 SMU (11-6-1) at No. 4 Cincinnati (7-8-3) – 1 p.m. Eastern - Video Link - Live Stats
 
Thursday, Nov. 7 – Semifinals – Host: Memphis
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. No. 2 USF (12-4-0) – 5:30 p.m. Eastern – American Digital Network
Game 4: Winner Game 2 at No. 1 Memphis (16-1-1) – 8 p.m. Eastern – American Digital Network
 
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Final – Host: Memphis
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 2 p.m. Eastern - ESPNU