Sept. 30, 2005
ORLANDO, Fla. - Roberta Pelarigo scored two goals for UCF as the Golden Knights defeated Southern Miss, 3-2, in overtime in its first Conference USA match. UCF improved to 4-6-0 on the season and 1-0-0 in C-USA, while the Golden Eagles fell to 3-3-1 and 0-1-0.
"We did not deserve to win," head coach Amanda Cromwell said. "We played well in the first half and then battled and found a way to win. They (Southern Miss) were really battling and gave us a fight. Obviously, it was our first Conference USA game and it was nice getting the win. Right now we need the wins, play well and keep building on that."
Pelarigo ended the night with two goals, seven shots and three shots on goal, while Michelle DeCespedes led the team in shots with five.
Southern Miss scored the first goal of the evening when Carly Barkley took a pass from Micah Stephens less than seven minutes in.
UCF answered with a goal of their own when Courtney Baines sent a corner kick toward the goal box for Jessalyn Withers to pass to Pelarigo for her fourth goal of the season.
The two teams went into the half tied at one apiece. The Golden Knights outshot the Golden Eagles, 13-2, and also led in corner kicks, 6-1.
The second half started out similar to the first when Southern Miss scored the first goal of the period. Kim Turner dribbled up the field and netted the ball past a diving Beth Harless.
UCF tied the match with less than two minutes to play in regulation when Kristin Bilby took a pass from Jennifer Montgomery.
Pelarigo scored UCF's third and final goal of the night at the 98:53 mark. Pelarigo took a pass from Bilby and sent it into the net.
At the end of the game, UCF had outshot Southern Miss, 25-5, and had taken 10 corner kicks to the Golden Eagles' one. Harless had one save on in the match, while her counterpart had seven.
Pelarigo paced the Golden Knights in points with four followed by Bilby with three and Baines, Montgomery and Withers each with one.
The Golden Knights return to the soccer field Sunday, Oct. 2 when the team travels to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on Florida Atlantic. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.