Sept. 7, 2008
DAVIS, Calif. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The No. 29 UCF women's soccer team and UC Davis both held late leads in Davis, Calif., but neither could secure the game-winning goal in a 2-2 tie Sunday. Junior Becca Thomas and freshman Katie Jackson each scored goals for the Knights (3-1-1) in the draw.
Trailing 1-0 in the 75th minute, Thomas tied it up, and Jackson eventually notched the go-ahead marker in the 88th minute. That was when the Aggies (1-2-2) used a goal from Danielle Contro with under 60 ticks left to send the match into overtime.
The Knights and Aggies played to a scoreless deadlock at halftime, with UCF picking up shots from Jackson and juniors Brianna Schooley and Yvonne George. Freshman keeper Aline Reis, conversely, made the lone save of the first half, turning aside a Gabina Bohlman shot in the 14th minute.
When the teams returned for the second half, UCF quickly earned a corner kick where junior Emily Maynard saw her attempt to get one past Sarah Peters be blocked in front. Although UCD's Samantha Faber fired off two shots of her own, including one that hit the post, George, senior Hanna Wilde and freshman Stacie Hubbard all recorded a shot from the 53rd to the 56th minutes. However, none of them found their way to the net.
The offensive pressure then switched over to UC Davis, and after Reis was forced to make two saves, Faber finally got one past the keeper from 15 yards out in the 72nd minute. It was the first goal Reis allowed since Aug. 25 at No. 4 Florida State.
With the match already in its latter stages, a 1-0 lead looked like it would hold up. But the very next shot ended the Aggies' short-lived momentum. Taking a direct kick from 25 yards deep, Thomas delivered the game-tying tally in the 75th minute. It was her 11th career goal and third in the last three games.
Not wanting to settle for overtime, the Black and Gold followed up with a pair of corner kicks and shots from Wilde, Maynard and Schooley with less than 10 minutes remaining. Yet it was Jackson who helped UCF grab the lead, scoring her first collegiate goal from the right side of the pitch with 2:46 remaining in regulation. Now trailing for the first time Sunday, the Aggies found a way to climb back in the final minute, evening things back up on a Contro goal as the clock read 00:44.
Both programs were well into double-digits in shots when the first overtime began, but Peters made her first save when Shooley placed one on net in the first minute of the extra session. She had to stop another chance on a shot from George just before the first 10 minutes ran out. In the final 10 minutes, UC Davis held a 4-3 edge in shots and Reis came up with the second OT's only save to allow both teams to record the tie.
With the California road swing all wrapped up, UCF returns home to host Illinois State Sept. 12, No. 11 Illinois Sept. 14 and No. 20 Kansas Sept. 19.
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. 29 UCF (3-1-1) - 2
UC Davis (1-2-2) - 2
Goals: UCD Samantha Faber (2) 72nd, UCF Becca Thomas (3) 75th, UCF Katie Jackson (1) 88th, UCD Danielle Contro (1), 90th
-Sunday marked the third game this year UCF and its opponent reached halftime in a 0-0 tie.
-It also was the first overtime match of the 2008 season for the Knights. Last year they played six OT contests and went 2-0-4.
-UC Davis' goal at the 71:41 mark ended Aline Reis' shutout streak at 366:30.
-The Aggies posted a 24-20 advantage in total shots. The 20 attempts for the Knights were the most in a match this year.
-Yvonne George paced the Knights with four shots, and assisted on Jackson's late goal in the second half.
-UCF led UCD in the corner-kick department, 6-2.
-Aline Reis finished with five saves on the day, bringing her season total to 30.