Sept. 24, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Facing two of the premier offensive programs in the nation last week, UCF's women's soccer team picked up two ties vs. Miami (Fla.) and No. 11 Florida State, and sophomore Courtney Whidden (Palm Harbor, Fla.) played a huge part. The Knight forward scored two key goals and her efforts did not go unnoticed as she was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.
The honor was the first of Whidden's career, and the third weekly accolade of the season for UCF (4-2-2).
Whidden began the week by scoring one of the most memorable goals in recent Knight history. Taking on Miami Sept. 19, the Knights earned a free kick inside the box with less than five seconds remaining in regulation and trailing 2-1. Sophomore Becca Thomas (Burlington, Wash.) quickly sent a pass across to Whidden who buried the game-tying goal into the net with 2.8 seconds showing.
When No. 11 FSU invaded the UCF Soccer Complex Sept. 22, Whidden and the Knights did not back down, especially after they headed into halftime with the Seminoles leading 3-1. In the 58th minute, Whidden evaded one Seminole defender and then the FSU keeper before hitting the net once again. Her goal paved the way for junior Hanna Wilde (Westlake, Ohio), who scored the equalizer with 3:10 left on the clock.
For the season, Whidden has seven goals on just 12 shots on goal. Last year, she had just three tallies as a freshman, and as a team, the Knights' 2006 leading goal-scorer was former student-athlete Roberta Pelarigo, who had nine in 16 matches.
UCF will wrap up its non-conference schedule Friday when Loyola (Md.) travels to Orlando to face the Knights at 7 p.m.
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