Oct. 21, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Seniors Roberta Pelarigo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Kristin Bilby (Chino Hills, Calif./Ruben S. Ayala HS) each scored a goal as UCF defeated Southern Miss, 2-1, in Conference USA women's soccer action at Bell Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Knights improved to 10-5-1 overall, marking their sixth consecutive season earning double digits in wins, while they improved to 6-1-0 in conference play. Southern Miss fell to 4-11-1 overall and 0-7-0 in C-USA.
UCF dominated the match early and capitalized on the attack in the 32nd minute. Pelarigo took the cross from freshman Becca Thomas (Burlington, Wash./Homeschooled) and sent a shot past Lady Eagle goalkeeper Holly Cox. It was Pelarigo's eighth goal of the season in the 32nd minute.
Ten minutes later, Bilby gave the Golden Knights the 2-0 lead. She found the back of the net off a corner kick from freshman Jenny Baker (Eatonville, Wash./Eatonville HS), who earned her first collegiate point with the assist.
The Lady Eagles spoiled the Golden Knights' bid for the shutout in the 75th minute when senior Sarah Brennan's serve on the corner kick banked off the far post and into the net.
The Golden Knights outshot their hosts by a margin of 29-7 on the afternoon. UCF junior goalkeeper Jennifer Manis (Pensacola, Fla./Washington HS) made three saves, while Cox recorded eight.
"We had a lot of chances and should have been able to finish on more of them. We are looking for a higher percentage of shots on goal than we had," UCF head coach Amanda Cromwell said. "The objective, though, was to win, so we got the result we wanted. Now we have to focus on the week ahead and our next opponent."
The Golden Knights return home on Friday, Oct. 27 when they face No. 19 SMU at 7 p.m. - a game that will be nationally broadcast on tape delay basis by CSTV on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m., they play host to Tulsa in their regular season finale.
Admission to UCF home women's soccer matches during the 2006 season is free courtesy of McDonald's. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.