Oct. 22, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF men's soccer team led Kentucky 1-0 with 20 minutes remaining Wednesday night, but the Wildcats scored twice down the stretch to post a 2-1 victory over the visiting Knights in Conference USA action. With its third-straight loss, UCF fell to 6-8 overall and 3-3 in league play while UK improved to 8-4-2 and 4-1-0 in C-USA.
After teammate C.J. Tappel tied the game in the 71st minute, the Wildcats' Tim Crone scored the game-winning goal in the 78th minute, taking a cross from Chad Hagerty and sliding a low shot past UCF keeper Sean Johnson (Lilburn, Ga.).
"It is a tough loss to swallow," said UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham. "We played great soccer in the first half and just got beat in the second half. Give credit to UK for coming back, but we have to learn to close teams out."
UCF put a dent in the scoreboard first when sophomore Yaron Bacher (Atlanta, Ga.) took a rebound off a Cameron Cooksey (Marietta, Ga.) shot and beat UK keeper Dan Williams to the opposite corner in the 31st minute. The marker was Bacher's second of the season.
The Knights held the lead for nearly 40 minutes before Tappel tied the game with his first goal of the year.
UCF fired three shots on goal in the first half to lead 1-0 at the break, but the Knights were able to muster just one Joe Crowley goal in the second half. The visitors were unable to get off a shot in the final 12 minutes after Crone's score. UK finished with a 14-4 edge in shots.
Johnson made three saves in goal for the Knights while Williams needed just two saves to earn the victory.
The Knights return home for a C-USA contest on Saturday night, hosting SMU at the UCF Soccer Complex for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
UCF vs Kentucky (Oct 22, 2008 at Lexington, Ky.)
UCF (6-8-0, 3-3 C-USA) vs. Kentucky (8-4-2, 4-1 C-USA)
Date: Oct 22, 2008 Attendance: 514
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
UCF........................ 1 0 - 1
Kentucky................ 0 2 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 30:21 UCF Bacher, Yaron (2) (unassisted) - rebounded shot after save, hit to opposite corner
2. 70:34 UK C.J. Tappel (1) (Marco dos Santos; Masumi Turnbull) - broke through defense, low shot from 6 out past keeper into lower right side
3. 77:07 UK Tim Crone (5) (Chad Hagerty) - broke down sideline, cross to Crone low shot past keeper
Shots: UCF 4, Kentucky 14
Saves: UCF 3 (Johnson, Sean 3), Kentucky 2 (Dan Williams 2)
Corner kicks: UCF 5, Kentucky 4
Offsides: UCF 2, Kentucky 1
Fouls: UCF 8, Kentucky 9