SEC champion Florida earned the No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament and hosts Central Florida in the opening round Friday.
Florida State, one of just 18 teams making a fifth consecutive appearance, plays Boston College - a future ACC rival - in the other game in Gainesville.
Game times have not been determined, and the winners meet Sunday.
"We know the facility. We know what to expect from a weather standpoint. I'm glad we weren't shipped (out of the region)," said FSU coach Patrick Baker, who figured the chances of hosting ended with a quarterfinal loss in penalty kicks to Clemson in the ACC tournament.
"We can play in nice, warm weather, and that's crucial for our group."
FSU has a history in the postseason at Florida to feel warm about, too. It beat the Gators 2-1 in the 2000 tournament and 2-1 in last year's Elite Eight. "Of course, there's some disappointment not hosting," sophomore defender Kelly Rowland said. "But Gainesville seems to be a good place for us. I'm excited to get down there."
The Gators got an automatic berth by beating Tennessee 2-1 in double overtime in Sunday's SEC final. They beat UCF 3-2 in overtime in the first round last year.
TAMPA: Seniors Ingo Fochler and Catherine Moore were named to the Academic All-District III first team. Fochler is pursuing his MBA with a 3.564 grade point average. Moore is scheduled to graduate magna cum laude in December.
