SALT LAKE CITY (U-WIRE) -- The Utah women's soccer team was feeling pretty optimistic about its chances of getting invited into the NCAA College Cup Soccer Championships on Monday.

As the team gathered in the Burbidge Center for the official announcement, a majority of the players arrived in their practice gear.

The show of faith, combined with the best record in school history (12-3-3), made the difference as the Utes were invited to the national tournament for the first time ever in Utah's eight-year existence.

Whoops, hugs and smiles filled the room as the announcement came that the Utes would match-up with Mountain West Conference and in-state rival BYU (16-5) on Thursday in first round action in Provo, Utah, with game time set for 7:00 p.m.

Utah received one of 35 at-large bids for the big dance. If the team advances, it plays the winner of Idaho State (13-6-1) and Portland (14-4-2) on Saturday in Provo.

Forward Shauna Gurr-Bingham said she was surprised at first, but then glad when she realized the implications of the first-round contest.

"It's the chance we didn't get in the conference tournament," Gurr-Bingham said of the Utes, who lost to New Mexico 1-0 in the semifinals last week.

First-year coach Rich Manning expected his team to be more excited about the at-large bid.

"I thought they'd yell a little louder," he said. "But I guess (the reaction) was more relief because we didn't blow our chances in the last couple games."

A couple of the players said they thought Manning was the main difference in qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

"He's positive and confident," Dennis said. "He made some minor changes in our defense and we were in every game because of our defense."

"He knows how to motivate," Gurr-Bingham said.

Manning overheard what his players were saying and said they were all wrong.

"I gave them the perception that I knew what I was doing," Manning said. "Seriously, I think it was my experience at Santa Clara. Through the tough games, I was able to learn to create a good environment."

Now Manning will look to create another environment -- one in which the Utes can beat BYU and advance in their first tournament appearance.

"Now that we're in the playoffs, they've got to know they need to perform and not get overwhelmed. Even the best teams make mistakes and you can't flip out about it."

(C) 2002 Daily Utah Chronicle via U-WIRE.