Nov. 14, 2008

Senior Danielle Dos Santos scored twice while sophomore Lauren Halbert put away the game-winner on a penalty kick as the UCF women's soccer team defeated Miami, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Championship Friday in Gainesville. The Knights (14-5-3) will now take on the No. 2 regional seed Florida Gators Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Second Round.

"In the first half we played horrible and found ourselves up 2-1," said head coach Amanda Cromwell, who guided the Knights to a first-round win for the second-straight season. "We knew we were going to play better in the first half, so we made some adjustments and played a little more direct in the second half. We were trying to get behind with Danielle, Yvonne George, Courtney Whidden, Amanda Martorana and Hanna Wilde. The attacking thirds picked it up and we're happy to go on to the Second Round."

Dos Santos helped erase an early 1-0 deficit vs. Miami (10-9-3) and added some insurance in the second-half for a two-goal game, giving her a team-high eight tallies on the year. Sophomore Lauren Halbert registered her third of the 2008 campaign, picking up the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 38th minute.

"Because I am a senior, as soon as they scored, I didn't want (this season) to be done so I was giving it everything I had," said dos Santos. "(On the first goal) as soon as I saw the ball coming to me, I was ready for it and I knew I was going to get it in. We then went into the locker room and the coaches had a great talk with us. The first half we didn't play our best soccer, but we were still winning. It was now or never, so everyone was trying to play for each other."

Freshman goalkeeper Aline Reis accumulated six saves for the victory, three in the first and three more in the second half. Miami did finish with a 14-10 lead in shots, but the Knights had a 7-6 margin in the final frame.

UCF's Brianna Schooley may have taken the first shot of the match, a header in the fourth minute that was stopped by UM keeper Vikki Alonzo, however it was the Hurricanes who put pressure on the Knights' defense early.

Miami used the opening minutes to set the tone in the first half, and by keeping possession often, found the back of the net 22:00 into the match. Off a left-side throw-in from Lauren Singer, Julianne Rickers had a clear look at the net from near the top of the box and sent a rocket just over Reis' outstretched glove and just under the crossbar.

With UM holding a 6-1 advantage in shots, UCF turned it up and ultimately earned a corner with 30:46 remaining. Although the ball was deflected back out of the box on the attempt, Halbert corralled it on the right side and sent another cross. This time it landed right on dos Santos' doorstep and she easily hit the mesh to tie it up at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.

Not satisfied, dos Santos went back to work in the 38th minute. All alone with a Miami defender in the box, dos Santos drew the foul and the penalty-kick try. Taking her first-career regulation PK, Halbert dug in her cleats and put her shot low into the right corner, the opposite way Alonzo had guessed, giving UCF a 2-1 halftime edge.

The Knights realized they could not let Miami come out in the second half the same way as the first, and continued to test the Hurricane defense. Another corner opportunity provided UCF with another scoring chance, but junior Becca Thomas, who routinely takes corners, was resting on the bench. Freshman Andrea Rodrigues took the kick instead in the 65th minute and delivered a perfect ball that went straight off the far left post. The rebound traveled through traffic and dos Santos was in the right spot to tap it home.

With a 3-1 cushion, UCF did not let up. Multiple Knights were getting great looks at the net for goal No. 4 during the final moments, including opportunities by dos Santos as she was searching for her second-career hat trick. Even though the Black and Gold did not convert another goal, the 3-1 lead was all it needed to advance.

The University of Memphis women's soccer team (15-5-2) suffered a 1-0 season ending loss in double overtime as it was eliminated from the first round of the 2008 NCAA Championship at the hands of the Illinois Fighting Illini (12-8-0).

"You know, it is a cruel game sometimes to end this way, in double overtime," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "I am extremely proud of our girls and the season that we have had."

The scoreless first half play may have been impacted by the damp cold conditions in Columbia, Mo. for the opening round play. The Illinois defense held Memphis to just two shots in the first half of play including one on frame by sophomore Vendula Strnadova.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters played relentlessly in the first half coming up with three big saves in the first half to keep the match scoreless at 0-0 heading in to halftime.

At the 52 minute mark, Strnadova almost connected with an open shot from the right side of the box, but the ball sailed just wide to the left over the top of the outstretched goalkeeper.

Despite Memphis recording six shots in the second half, at the end of regulation, the game stood tied at 0-0. The unyielding defensive battle continued into the first overtime period.

At the 97 minute mark in the first overtime, Lizzy Simonin took her second corner kick of the match. She curved the ball dangerously at the goal, but goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka was able to get a hand on the ball knocking it back over the top of the crossbar.

The match remained at 0-0 as play moved into double overtime. With 7:42 left in the second overtime period, sophomore Jordan Hilbrands received a pass at the top of the box from junior Chichi Nweke and booted the ball past the diving Kuhar-Pitters netting the golden goal eliminating the Memphis Lady Tigers from the 2008 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.

"Give credit to Illinois," said Monaghan. "They're a good team and I wish them the best."

The Memphis women's soccer team ends its 2008 season as C-USA regular season champions, C-USA Tournament champions, and NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament qualifiers.