Aug. 31, 2008

Conference USA teams posted an impressive 12-2-2 record against non-conference competition, including UCF's win over No. 19 Florida on Friday night. Colorado College, Southern Miss and UTEP all improved to 3-0-0 to start the season, with Southern Miss and UTEP picking up tournament titles. Marshall jumped out to a 2-0-0 start with another road win and Houston earned a pair of victories over the weekend.

NO. 29 UCF 1, NO. 19 Florida 0
UCF 1, Hartford 0

Junior striker Yvonne George scored in the 84th minute to lead UCF to a 1-0 road win at No. 19 Florida on Friday night. Freshman GK Aline Reis accumulated eight saves and was credited with her first collegiate shutout for the No. 29 Knights. Reis faced three shots on net in the first half and turned them all aside, helping the Knights reach halftime in a 0-0 deadlock. Florida then came out after the break by pressuring the UCF defense, ripping off nine unanswered shots. Reis remained strong, though, making four saves during that stretch.

The Knights made their home debut with a 1-0 shutout of visiting Hartford on Sunday. Dealing with harsh winds all match long, a late goal by junior Becca Thomas secured the win. Thomas scored with five minutes remaining in the match, marking the second-straight game UCF (2-1-0) tallied the game-winner with less than seven minutes on the clock. Reis collected her second-straight shutout, making three saves against the Hawks (2-1-1). UCF completed the windy afternoon with an 11-9 edge in shots, as Thomas led the way with three.

For more, check out the UCF website.

Southern Miss 2, Northwestern 0
Southern Miss 1, Arkansas-Little Rock 0

Southern Miss improved to 3-0-0 with its third win in the last six days, defeating Arkansas- Little Rock, 1-0, in the final day of the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State. The win secured the title in the inaugural Bulldog Invitational. The Golden Eagles had not won three consecutive games since the 2005 season and had not won three straight away from home since the 2002 season. With a 3-0 start, head coach Scott Ebke becomes the first Golden Eagle soccer coach to win their first three games. GK Holly Cox had another good game between the pipes, posting her second consecutive shutout with five saves on the afternoon. She has not allowed a goal in just over 230 minutes dating back to the season opener vs. South Alabama, the only goal she has surrendered this season.

Pre-season All-Conference USA selection Sarah McFadden scored the game's only goal, her first of the season and 18th of her career, which ties her for sixth place all-time. She fired from about 20 yards out on a free kick for her first goal of the season. For more details, check out the Southern Miss website.

UTEP 1, Texas State 0
UTEP 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 0 (OT)

Junior F Tameka Sumter scored less than three minutes into the first overtime period to give UTEP a 1-0 win against Louisiana-Lafayette in the championship match of the 11th Annual Miners Classic at University Field on Sunday afternoon. Sumter, who also accounted for the match winner against Texas State on Friday, was sent streaking in alone on the goalkeeper after a brilliant through ball by Jordan Freiberg. Freshman GK Chandra Morden Bednar recorded her first two collegiate wins.

More information can be found on the UTEP website.

Colorado College 1, Valparaiso 0
Colorado College 2, Idaho State 1

In three matches so far this season, Colorado College has figured out three different ways to win. On Sunday, the Tigers found themselves down a goal for the first time in 2008 until sophomore F Tiffany Brown tied things up on a breakaway in the 32nd minute. Brown then set up the game winner by Emily Beans midway through the second half, as CC rallied for a 2-1 non-conference triumph over Idaho State. It was the second goal of the season by Beans, who played sparingly due to a slight injury. Senior GK Geneva Sills finished with five saves for the second consecutive contest. For more information, go to the Colorado College website.

Marshall 4, Mount St. Mary's 0

Marshall freshman Katie Ball scored two goals as the Thundering Herd shut out host Mount St. Mary's, 4-0, Saturday afternoon. Junior Molly Snead chipped it past Alicia Miller from six yards out to register her ninth career and first season goal in the 12th minute off a Ball pass. In the 55th minute, Ball tallied her first career and season goal with a through ball past Miller from 12 yards out. Angela DeSumma added an assist in the Herd's second goal. After only 14 minutes, Ball tapped in her second career and season goal from 12 yards to put the Herd up 3-0 in the 69th minute. Freshman Kaitlin Devine registered her first career and season goal in the 86th minutes off an Erika Duncan rebound shot off the post.

Junior keeper Liz Orton took the victory and now has 199 all-time career saves. More info available on the Marshall website.

Houston 3, Sam Houston State 1
Houston 1, Stephen F. Austin 0

Senior GK Shelby Scott became the program's all-time leader in shutouts with nine, as she helped lead Houston to 1-0 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sunday. Scott entered Sunday's contest in a tie with former Cougar Robin Cate for the career mark with eight clean sheets. She was instrumental in preserving the win for Houston, foiling several good Ladyjack scoring opportunities late in the game.

Freshman Stephanie Derieg provided the game's only goal in the 22nd minute, scoring on a free kick from around midfield. It was the first career goal for the Cougar free kick specialist. For more information, log onto the Houston website.

Tulsa 1, Arkansas 0
Missouri State 1, Tulsa 0

Junior Kayla Chambers tallied the game-winning goal for Tulsa, giving the Golden Hurricane a 1-0 victory over Arkansas on Friday night at Razorback Field in Fayetteville, Ark. Chambers' goal came in 47th minute, as she found a slot to score from eight yards out in front of the net. This was her second goal of the season and fourth career goal. Tulsa could not extend its two-game win streak, dropping a close 1-0 decision to host Missouri State on Sunday.

For more, check out the Tulsa website.

Memphis 1, Alabama 1 (2OT)

Memphis hosted Alabama Friday at Mike Rose Soccer Complex and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie as the defenses prevailed. Both teams had several opportunities to score, but could not capitalize on any scoring chances. The Crimson Tide scored first in the 17th minute. Seven minutes and two seconds in to the second half Laura Laufenberg tied the game with a goal from the left side being assisted by teammates Krista Turner and Ashley Berra.

More details can be found on the Memphis website.

SMU 2, Mississippi 2 (2OT)

SMU held off a strong team from Ole Miss, battling the Rebels to a 2-2 draw Friday night at Westcott Field. Sophomore Kristin Medeiros and freshman Devon Herrman scored for the Mustangs, whose record now stands at 0-1-1. With SMU trailing, 1-0, at halftime, Medeiros got the equalizer in the 49th minute, when she converted a pass from freshman Dylan Jordan and buried an 18-yard shot in the lower right corner of the goal. Herrman then put the Ponies ahead in the 66th minute when she pounced on a rebound off the goalkeeper and drilled the first goal of her college career. Ole Miss got the tying goal in the 90th minute of regulation, and the teams battled through two scoreless overtime periods.

For more details, check out the SMU website.

USF 1, UAB 0

The Blazers dropped a heartbreaking match to the USF Bulls Friday evening, 1-0, at West Campus Field. The game was deadlocked at 0-0 and looked like it was heading to overtime when Melanie Sutherland put one in the back of the net for the Bulls in the 88th minute of the contest to give USF the 1-0 victory. Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Blankenship (0-3) tallied five saves and allowed one goal while receiving the loss for UAB. More information is available on the UAB website.

East Carolina and Rice were both idle over the holiday weekend and will return to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 5.