Oct. 11, 2008
EL PASO, Texas (ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's soccer team and UTEP both erased one-goal deficits in a 2-2 tie Friday in El Paso, Texas. Seniors Danielle Dos Santos (Campinas, Brazil) and Hanna Wilde (Westlake, Ohio) each picked up goals for the Knights, which saw their record move to 7-3-3 overall and 2-1-2 in Conference USA.
UCF finished with 20 shots compared to the Miners' (9-4-1, 2-2-1) 15 attempts, which was the third-straight match the Black and Gold had 20 or more shots. Junior Becca Thomas (Burlington, Wash.) led the way with five shots. The keepers combined for 14 saves, with freshman Aline Reis (Campinas, Brazil) making three stops and UTEP's Chandra Morden amassing 11 saves.
The Knights were quick in setting the momentum, as Thomas and junior Emily Maynard (Munster, Ind.) both put shots on goal in the first 2:08 of the first half. Thomas then ripped off four more shots, three over the crossbar and one wide, while junior Yvonne George (Winter Springs, Fla.) put a shot of her own on net early on.
However, it was UTEP's Cortney Casey that scored the first goal, registering her sixth of the season on a thru ball in the 25th minute. Although trailing, UCF continued to put pressure on Morden, and it finally got on the board with help from a Knight seeing her first action in a collegiate contest.
Freshman Heather Dooley (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered as a sub midway through the frame, and minutes later struck for her first shot on goal. Eventually in the 40th minute, she connected with dos Santos and the Brazilian would do the rest. After being able to use a couple of evasive maneuvers to get past the Miners' defense, dos Santos sent in a deep shot to the far post the bounced off the crossbar and over the goal line. The equalizer was dos Santos' second goal of the year.
Following halftime, UCF seized control in the 67th minute when Wilde tallied her second goal by slamming home a rebound for a 2-1 lead. The home team did not back down, drawing even once again in the 72nd minute thanks to a Tameka Sumter goal off a corner kick. Knight freshman Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla.) hoped to avoid overtime when she reeled off a potential go-ahead marker in the 79th minute only to see it rattle off the post. Morden also had to make saves at the end of the half to force extra time.
Neither school managed a shot in the first overtime, and junior Brianna Schooley (Coral Springs, Fla.) was the only player to take a shot on goal in the second session. But the defenses remained strong en route to the draw.
The long road trip comes to a close when UCF travels to Colorado Springs to battle Colorado College Sunday 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
UCF (7-3-3, 2-1-2) - 2
UTEP (9-4-1, 2-2-1) - 2
Goals: UTEP Cortney Casey (6) 25th, UCF Danielle Dos Santos (2) 40th, UCF Hanna Wilde (2) 67th, UTEP Tameka Sumter (5) 72nd
-Friday marked UCF's second-straight overtime game, and its third in the last four outings. For the season, it has played four overtime contests and now owns a 1-0-3 record.
-With two C-USA ties, UCF has set a school record for most draws in conference play in 16 years it has been affiliated with a league.
-The Knights are also one tie away from matching the overall school record for draws in a single season (four set in 1995 and 2007).
-UCF and UTEP tied 4-4 in corner kicks in regulation, but the Miners had the only two corners in overtime.
-Hanna Wilde's goal was UCF's first unassisted goal since Sept. 19 when Becca Thomas scored vs. Kansas.
-Christina Petrucco and keeper Aline Reis were the only Knights to play all 110 minutes.