Oct. 19, 2007

UCF picked up a key conference win and handed UTEP its first C-USA loss with a 4-2 decision in Orlando. The Knights improve to 5-0-0 for sole possession of first place in the standings. Memphis and Rice both remain undefeated in league play (3-0-1) with wins on Friday. Memphis also improved to 7-0-0 at home, while East Carolina (7-0-0) and UAB (3-0-0) also kept their home records unblemished.

UCF 4, UTEP 2

UCF used an impressive first half to build an early lead versus UTEP, and it held on for a 4-2 victory at the UCF Soccer Complex Friday. With the win, the Knights remain all alone in first place in Conference USA with a 5-0-0 record, and they are 10-2-2 overall this season. The win was the Knights' sixth in a row, the longest streak since 2004, and they stayed undefeated at home at 6-0-2. Meanwhile, they are also 6-0-2 in their last eight matches, and their 10 victories mark the seventh-straight season UCF has posted double-digits in the wins column. The Black and Gold set a season-high for shots (36) and shots on goal (17) vs. UTEP (9-5-1, 3-1-0). In the first half alone, UCF had a 21-10 advantage in the shot department. Senior goalkeeper Jennifer Manis did see her shutout string end at 454:52, which was the longest stretch since 2003 when Julie Snaman went 526:12 without giving up a goal. She was still dominate in net, though, stopping eight shots, including two key UTEP attempts with time winding down in the second half. Manis also notched an assist on UCF's second goal for her first career point. It was the first time a Knight keeper recorded an assist dating back to 1996 (Alyssa O'Brien).

Both teams entered the match in the top 20 in the country in scoring offense (UTEP 15th, UCF 18th). The Knights quickly demonstrated why they are one of the top offensive teams in Division I, controlling the pressure right away vs. the Miners. It eventually paid off in the third minute. Sophomore Becca Thomas set it up by ripping a shot on goal from the left side, but keeper Jessica Salvi could not handle it and the rebound bounced free near the goal line. Sophomore Courtney Whidden was in a perfect spot and easily connected for her first goal of the night.

Following two saves later in the half, Manis then contributed on the offensive side of the ball. On a goal kick, Manis cranked a pass that sophomore Brianna Schooley headed forward and through the UTEP defense. Sophomore Yvonne George used her speed to trail the ball to the right side, found herself one-on-one with the keeper and beat her to the far side of the net for a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute. The Knights came close to scoring their third goal, hitting two crossbars and watching freshman Amanda Martorana's breakaway attempt with nine minutes left in the half barely tipped away by Salvi. UCF appeared to be heading into halftime with a 2-0 cushion, but in the 40th minute, UTEP finally got on the board. Cortney Casey sent a crossing pass into the box that was tipped to Lauren Hamson, who hit the net to make it 2-1.

The pace in the first few minutes of the second half was a bit slower, however UCF was still earning scoring chances. More than midway through the frame, the Knights finally put the game out of reach. In the 71st minute, junior Hanna Wilde sent a pass to the top of the box for Schooley, who in turn delivered a short pass to Whidden. From about 13 yards out, Whidden's shot clanked off the left post and bounced into the net for goal No. 10 this year. Just 2:15 later, George collected her eighth goal of 2007 by taking a pass in the box from sophomore Nikki Moore and sending it past Salvi. The Miners were able to score in the 86th minute, but the Knights managed to keep them at bay the rest of the way to seal the win.

MEMPHIS 3, TULSA 0

Kylie Hayes scored the 33rd goal of her career, as she helped to lead Memphis past Tulsa in a 3-0 shutout. Memphis was able to keep possession of the ball for the majority of the first half, holding the Golden Hurricane to one shot the entire period. Senior forward Harumi Someya scored her seventh goal of the season as she gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead, with nine minutes to go in the first half. Junior midfielder Emiko Schwab nailed a header to the left side of the net, to make it her third consecutive game scoring a goal. Tonight was her fifth goal of the season. Hayes' goal marked her seventh of the season and put her tied at the top of the leader board for career goals. With one more goal, Hayes will pass assistant coach Jodi Grant for the record. Freshman forward, Krista Turner assisted on each of the Lady Tigers three goals. Memphis continued to battle the entire match as, freshman defender Stacey Radcliffe blocked a shot with 18 seconds to go, denying the Golden Hurricanes any last chance at a goal.

UAB 3, SMU 1

UAB (6-6-1, 2-2-0 C-USA) won its second consecutive Conference USA game and remained undefeated at home this season by topping SMU (5-6-1, 1-4-0), 2-1, Friday evening at West Campus Field. The win marked the Blazers first victory over the Mustangs in program history.

UAB scored the lone goal of the first half when senior Jill Porto kicked one in during the 13th minute, with the assist going to sophomore Danya Barsalona, to put the Blazers up 1-0. The score marked Porto's third goal of the season and her third consecutive game with a goal. The Blazers extended their lead to 2-0 in the 66th minute when senior Sally Palmer headed in her fifth goal of the year off a corner kick by sophomore Toni Gockel.

SMU got on the board in the second half when Allison Brill tallied a goal in the 76th minute, with the assist by Kimber Bailey, to tighten the score to 2-1.

UAB responded with a third goal courtesy of Barsalona, her sixth of the year, in the 85th minute to ensure the win for the Blazers, 3-1. UAB edged out SMU in shots, 11-9, including a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. Porto and Palmer led the Blazers with three shots each, while Barsalona and freshman Justine Hartigan added two shots apiece. Brill contributed five shots to the Mustangs' total, while Brittainy Vice had two and Bailey and Lauren Shepherd had one each.

Redshirt freshman Kate Blankenship earned the win in goal for UAB by allowing just one goal and grabbing three saves. Meagan Boyle received the loss for SMU, giving up three goals and recording two saves.

RICE 3, MARSHALL 0

Marshall suffered another Conference USA loss to foe Rice, 3-1, Friday evening at Sam Hood Field. Despite the loss, sophomore goalkeeper Liz Orton tallied four saves which puts her seven back from tying her personal best of 79, set last season. The Herd dropped to 3-9-1 overall and 0-3-1 in C-USA action, while the Owls improved to 9-3-2 overall and 3-0-1 in C-USA. Marshall's senior midfielder Mollie Lee recorded her second season goal and the Herd's lone goal in the 78th minute from a Kassie Hollman pass. Lee tallied two shots on goal. Also, Hollman took one shot on goal. The Herd's sophomore forward Molly Snead registered two shots with one being on goal. The Owls took command with two goals in the first period with one coming in the 23rd minute and the other right before half with 36 seconds to go in the 44th minute. In the 83rd minute, after an Orton save, Samantha Conn rebounded her own penalty kick shot to put the Herd out of reach. The Owls outshot the Herd 15-7, with seven being placed on goal.

EAST CAROLINA 3, HOUSTON 0

Three different Pirates scored to lead ECU to a 3-0 shutout victory over Houston Friday afternoon at Bunting Field. The Pirates are now 8-2-3 and are 2-1-1 in Conference USA action while Houston falls to 4-8-1 overall and 0-4-0 in league play. East Carolina is now a perfect 7-0 at home this season and moves to 5-0-0 all-time against the Cougars.

Junior Blair Heffner got the Pirates on board first, as she scored her fifth goal of the season off a header from classmate Nicole Moore with 33 minutes to play in the first half. Freshman Tricia Tufts netted her first career goal off a pass from fellow freshman Amanda Broz with 8:48 to play in the opening half. With 19 seconds to play until halftime, Regan Sigler tallied her first career goal as she cashed in on a rebound off an Alexis Foltz shot to put the Pirates up 3-0 at the break.

The Pirates tallied 16 total shots on the day, compared to the Cougars' four. ECU held Houston to just one shot on goal in the second half, cruising to the 3-0 shutout. Amber Campbell recorded two saves in 71 minutes of action while Jen Kurowicki notched one in her first appearance of the season (18 minutes).

COLORADO COLLEGE 2, SOUTHERN MISS 0

Colorado College scored a goal in each half, defeating Southern Miss, 2-0, in soccer action Friday afternoon. Colorado College (7-4-2, 2-2-0) scored its first goal in the 30th minute when Sydney Fetter floated a free kick over the out-stretched hands of Southern Miss goalkeeper Anna Fiser into the back of the net from 35-yards away on the left side of the field.

Southern Miss (6-8-0, 2-3-0) had three shots in the first half, but only one shot on goal, when Sarah McFadden's header landed in the hands of Colorado College's goalie, Geneva Sills for her only save of the game. The Tigers scored their final goal in the 62nd minute, when Fetter put a free kick over the heads of the Southern Miss defenders to Ericka Baer, who punched a pass to Emily Beans on the left side. Beans then beat her defender, putting the ball past the goalie on a sharply kicked ball from 10-yards out on the left side of the box. Colorado College did not allow a shot on goal in the second half. Southern Miss' Fiser finished the match with seven saves.