Sept. 26, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 20 UCF women's soccer team saw its four-match winning streak in league openers snapped Friday night in a 4-1 loss at UAB. The Knights' record dropped to 5-3-1 overall and 0-1-0 in Conference USA heading into Sunday's match at Memphis.
Sophomore Amanda Martorana (Middleburg, Fla.) notched her second goal of the season for the Knights, while freshman goalkeeper Aline Reis amassed eight saves Friday. The Blazers (3-6-0, 1-0-0) finished by outshooting the Black and Gold, 17-11.
UCF's leading goal-scorer, junior Becca Thomas (Burlington, Wash.), posted the game's first shot on net in the ninth minute, yet UAB keeper Kate Blankenship was in position to collect her first save. At the other end, Reis greeted the Blazers with four-straight saves before a scoring outburst closed out the first half.
With just less than seven minutes remaining, Martorana tallied her third-career goal to put the Knights up on top. However, UAB's Tiffini Turpin tied it at 1-1 with 1:16 showing on the clock, and Carolyn Polcari scored just 21 seconds later to help the Blazers reach the break holding a 2-1 advantage.
Reis was put to the test again early in the second half as UAB controlled the action, reeling off four shots, two on net, before senior Hanna Wilde (Westlake, Ohio) secured UCF's first attempt of the stanza in the 64th minute. That shot eventually helped the Knights earn their second corner of the match, but UAB once again defended well to keep its one-goal lead. And moments later, the Blazers picked up a corner of their own and were able to capitalize, with Marie Yempuku hitting the back of the net to ultimately put the game out of reach. Laura McCalla completed the scoring in the 77th minute for the final 4-1 margin.
The weekend road trip continues for the Knights as they travel to Memphis for a Sunday match-up at 2 p.m. ET.
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
No. 20 UCF (5-3-1, 0-1-0) - 1
UAB (3-6-0, 1-0-0) - 4
Goals: UCF Amanda Martorana 39th (2), UAB Tiffini Turpin 44th (2), UAB Carolyn Polcari 45th (1), UAB Marie Yempuku 67th (1), UAB Laura McCalla 77th (2)
-UCF's lone Conference USA regular-season loss in 2007 came at the hands of UAB in Birmingham. That year, it rebounded to defeat Memphis in Tennessee that same weekend.
-Friday marked the first time since September 2006 that the Knights lost two-straight matches.
-The Knights did close the game by taking the final five shots. Two of those, one each from Hanna Wilde and Brianna Schooley, were both on goal.
-Wilde paced the UCF offense with a total of three shots.