Sept. 16, 2008
UCF and Colorado College both picked up wins over Top 25 teams last weekend and both made their debuts in the Soccer America Top 25 at No. 18 and No. 23, respectively. Five matches against nationally-ranked opponents are on the slate for the upcoming weekend, along with three mid-week non-conference contests.
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PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hanna Wilde, UCF
Senior, MF, Westlake, Ohio
Wilde controlled the UCF offense in a 2-1 win over Illinois State Friday. After she attempted many crossing passes from her position on the left flank, she was credited with an assist on the goal in the 28th minute to give UCF the 1-0 lead. In the second half with the game knotted at 1-1, Wilde delivered the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute. In Sunday's 2-0 shutout of No. 18 Illinois, she totaled a team-high three shots to keep the team's unbeaten streak alive at six matches (5-0-1). This is her first C-USA Player of the Week honor.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aline Reis, UCF
Freshman, GK, Campinas, Brazil
Reis amassed eight saves over the weekend in victories over Illinois State and No. 18 Illinois for her second straight C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honor. Against the Redbirds, Reis posted four saves with the only ISU goal coming on a free kick. Two days later, the Fighting Illini placed four shots on goal and they were all turned aside by Reis, as the netminder recorded her fourth shutout in seven matches this year. It also was her second win over a ranked team this year. Reis now has a 1.11 GAA with an .826 save percentage and 38 saves. Reis' only loss in 2008 was to No. 4 Florida State.
C-USA PAIR MAKE DEBUT IN SOCCER AMERICA TOP 25
Both UCF (No. 18) and Colorado College (No. 23) are ranked in the latest Soccer America Top 25 poll. UCF defeated No. 18 Illinois, 2-0, Sunday for the Knights second win over a Top 20 team this season (UCF also beat No. 19 Florida on Aug. 29). UCF is 12-0-4 in its last 16 home matches with its last loss coming Oct. 6, 2006, against Memphis. That is actually the Knights highest ranked since 1992 when they finished No. 16 in the final NSCAA coaches poll.
Colorado College knocked off No. 22 Denver, 2-1, in a double-overtime victory in the first round of the Air Force Academy Falcon Invitational. CC's Kelly LaVoie scored the golden goal for the Tigers in the 103rd minute. After a 3-0 win over Army, the Tigers remained unbeaten at 6-0-1 this season and took the No. 23 position in the Soccer America poll. CC was also ranked No. 26 in the Soccer Buzz poll for the first time in school history.
UAB WINS TOURNAMENT TITLE
UAB earned a 1-0 victory against cross-town foe Samford on the final day of the UAB Nike Classic tournament Sunday afternoon at West Campus Field. After topping Wright State 1-0 Friday, the Blazers claimed the tournament title. UAB and Samford were both scoreless until the 86th minute when freshman F Tiffini Turpin knocked in the first goal of her career. Turpin's goal was assisted by junior F Danya Barsalona. UAB held a distinct advantage in shots, 16-11, over Samford. The Blazers recorded seven shots on goal, while the Bulldogs tallied eight. Barsalona nabbed a game-high seven shots on the day, including five shots on goal, for the Blazers. Sophomore GK Kate Blankenship earned the win in goal for the Blazers, grabbing seven saves and recording the shutout for UAB.
BEST START FOR BENNETT
Colorado College improved its unbeaten streak to seven matches with a 3-0 shutout of Army on Sunday. The 6-0-1 record is the Tigers' best start in the five seasons head coach Geoff Bennett has been at the helm.
WE DON'T LIKE IKE
Four weekend women's soccer matches were cancelled due to the severe weather caused by Hurricane Ike. Houston's matches at No. 8 Texas on Friday and at No. 15 LSU on Sunday were both cancelled. Officials did try to reschedule the LSU game to Tuesday, Sept. 16, but the Cougar team was just returning to campus following mandatory evacuation orders. Friday's Southern Miss at Southeastern Louisiana match was also cancelled, as was Sunday's Princeton at Rice match.
SHOOTING STARS
Tulsa improved to 5-3 on the season with a 4-0 shutout of Arkansas State Sunday. All five Golden Hurricane wins have been shutouts and TU ranks ninth nationally in team scoring offense (3.5 gpg).
Melissa Smith of Memphis, who injured her knee last season and had surgery over the summer, netted a pair of goals over the weekend. Her first goal of the season was off an assist from Julia Ignacio, and teammates Vendula Strnadova and Lizzy Simonin added goals in the Tigers' 3-0 shutout of Oklahoma on Friday. She also scored the lone Tiger goal in a 2-1 loss to Colorado Sunday.
East Carolina posted a 2-1 victory against Hofstra, who was ranked No. 2 in the Northeast Region and a 2007 NCAA Tournament second-round team. Junior Jessica Swanson and freshman Amanda Malkiewicz handled the scoring for ECU. The Pirates' 4-1 start marks first time since 1999 that the Pirates have won four of their first five contests.
Rice junior Erin Scott broke a scoreless tie in the 50th minute, but TCU remained undefeated when the game winner was scored less than two minutes remaining in double overtime to defeat the Owls, 2-1.
