Aug. 25, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - After waiting three days for the weather to clear up, the UCF women's soccer team finally got its 2008 season underway Monday in a 5-0 defeat at No. 4 Florida State. The loss dropped the Knights' all-time record to 16-11-1 in season-openers.
FSU, last year's NCAA College Cup runner-up, racked up four first-half goals and finished with a 20-7 lead in the shot department as it tried to avenge a 3-3 tie in last year's meeting. In that 2007 clash in Orlando, UCF erased a 3-1 second-half deficit for the draw.
Making her first career start in net on Monday, redshirt freshman Aline Reis stopped her first shot on goal in the eighth minute. However, Amanda DaCosta continued the offensive pressure and provided the Seminoles with a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. That would double to 2-0 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half on a goal from Lauren Switzer.
Moments later, DaCosta added her second goal of the match in the 35th minute on a shot from 20 yards out, and Casey Short made it 4-0 at the 38:35 mark.
UCF's offense tried to cut into the Seminole advantage in the 52nd minute when junior Brianna Schooley ripped off a pair of shots, one on net, and junior Becca Thomas also placed one on goal. Each time, though, Seminole netminder Kate Milstead was there to keep the Knights off the board.
FSU eventually completed the scoring in the 66th minute on Short's second goal on a rebound in front.
An NCAA Tournament Second Round rematch is now in store for the Knights as they travel to Gainesville to take on No. 20 Florida Friday at 8 p.m. (changed from 7 p.m.).
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Postgame Notes
- The UCF women's soccer match at FSU served as the first regular-season event for any Knight program for the 2008-09 athletic season. On Friday, the men's soccer and volleyball teams will also get their years underway.
- Monday's game saw two postponements, as it was originally slated for Friday night then Sunday afternoon. But both programs were forced to wait until Tropical Storm Fay moved out of the area.
- Junior transfer Emily Maynard (Munster, Ind.) and freshman Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla.) each made their first starts in a Knight uniform.
- Freshmen Stacie Hubbard (Jacksonville, Fla.), Kaci Kratch (Austin, Texas), Andrea Rodrigues (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Sheri Hince (Winnipeg, Manitoba) also saw their first action in Division I, coming off the bench in the match with the Seminoles.
- Schooley finished with three total shots, one on goal. Thomas, Hubbard, Rodrigues and Christina Petrucco all had one shot apiece.
- Reis completed her day with four saves while playing all 90 minutes.