Nov. 9, 2007

EL PASO, Texas - In Friday's first semifinal match of the 2007 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship at University Field on the campus of UTEP Friday evening, top-seeded UCF scored the game winner on a Brianna Schooley header off of a cross from Becca Thomas to down No. 5 Rice, 1-0. With the win, the Knights advance to their first championship match as a member of C-USA.

Rice finished the game with the advantage in shots, 17-11, but could never find the back of the next for the equalizer. UCF led in corner kicks 6-4 and was on the attack most of the second half.

2007 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Jennifer Manis registered eight saves in goal for the Knights. Hanna Wilde led her team with seven shots, one on goal.

The teams hit the halftime break scoreless. Rice held the advantage in shots 10-4, while corner kicks were even, but neither teams could convert the chances into scores.

Manis tallied five saves in the stanza.

In the 53rd minute, UCF had its first major scoring chance when Wilde hit the crossbar after a flurry of Knight shots were blocked.

Soon after, Schooley scored on her header and it proved to be all the offense the Knights would need.

Rice's Caitlin Robbins, Shelley Wong and Clory Martin all tallied three shots for the Owls, while Friday's offense star Kellen Schugart had two shots, along with Koren Taylor and Katelyn OStendorf.

UCF improves to 13-3-3 with the win and advances to Sunday's championship match at 2:00 p.m. MST against the winner of the second semifinal match between No. 2 Memphis and No. 3 UTEP. Rice ends its regular season at 12-6-2.