Oct. 17, 2008
Final Stats
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Erin Scott's goal with less than five minutes remaining in the second overtime gave Rice a 2-1 victory over the UCF women's soccer team Friday night at the UCF Soccer Complex. The loss forced the Knights' record to drop to 8-4-3 overall and 3-2-2 in Conference USA.
Friday's contest marked the fourth-straight overtime game for the Knights, tying a school record set in 1995. However it was their first OT loss of the year (2-1-3).
After Rice's first goal in the 53rd minute, UCF controlled the action the rest of the way, finishing with a 27-11 lead in shots, including a 16-2 cushion in the second half and a 5-1 advantage in overtime. Senior Danielle Dos Santos had a game-high six shots and scored the Knights' lone goal, which came with just 1:25 remaining in regulation to send it to overtime. UCF's freshman keeper Aline Reis completed her evening with six saves.
Several Knights had opportunities right away against the Owls Friday, with dos Santos and juniors Courtney Whidden, Brianna Schooley, Becca Thomas and Emily Maynard all taking shots in the first 11 minutes. While none of those attempts reached the target, Rice also attempted to grab the first lead, sending five balls on goal but Reis was there each time.
Her final save of the half was the most impressive. With just less than three minutes remaining, Hope Ward sent in a corner that found Kate Edwards, who in turn headed it over to Alexa Coralli near the right post. While in the air, Coralli also attempted a header from only two yards off the goal line, but Reis was in perfect position to haul in the save.
Rice's offense did not let up when the second half began, and in the 53rd minute it finally got on the board. Dribbling all alone against the UCF defense, Scott found a lane to get into the box and as Reis dove to her right, Scott sent her shot just inside the left post for the 1-0 lead.
The Knights started feeling the pressure and began to maintain possession after the Rice goal. As much as the Owls' back played on their heels, the Black and Gold could not find a way to put one in the net. But this was nothing new to UCF, a team that has discovered ways to come back in the last few minutes the past two seasons. That occurred again on Friday.
Already in the 89th minute, Schooley was serving as one of the UCF midfielders that set up a ton of chances in the final moments of regulation. It was her pass to dos Santos, though, into the front of the net that paid off. Although dos Santos' initial shot was turned aside by Meghan Erkel, the rebound went straight back out and the UCF forward easily sent it into the mesh. It was dos Santos' third goal of the season.
Dos Santos almost delivered the win seconds later when UCF returned into the Rice box, but her sliding shot from point blank range barely missed the right side of the net. The overtime sessions were again dominated by the Knights, but Erkel came through for the Owls with three saves in the first stanza. That helped set up Rice's only shot in extra frames, and it came with a lucky bounce. As Scott sent in a spinning shot from approximately 20 yards out, it took a nasty hop, crept by Reis' outstretched arms and somehow bounced over the goal line for the game-winner.
UCF gets back to work on Sunday when it hosts Houston in a 1 p.m. showdown at the UCF Soccer Complex. The home schedule will conclude Oct. 24 vs. SMU at 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
Rice (8-6-0, 4-3-0) - 2
UCF (8-4-3, 3-2-2) - 1
Goals: RICE Erin Scott (4) 53rd, UCF Danielle Dos Santos (3) 89th, RICE Erin Scott (5) 106th
-Attendance continued to grow for this year's soccer matches. A total of 485 fans came out to watch Friday's action.
-It was UCF's first OT loss since a 2-1 defeat vs. UAB in 2006.
-UCF also played six OT matches last season and went 2-0-4 in those outings.
-Becca Thomas amassed five shots vs. the Owls, two of which were on goal.
-Courtney Whidden, Brianna Schooley, Emily Maynard and Yvonne George all had three shots.
-UCF were awarded eight corner kicks compared to Rice's four.