Sept. 9, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Another meeting against a top-10 opponent is on this week's schedule for the UCF women's soccer team as it hosts No. 4 Florida State Thursday at 7 p.m. The Knights will also welcome USF to town Sunday at 1 p.m., and admission to both matches at the UCF Soccer Complex is free.
The clash with the Seminoles marks the third time in UCF's last five matches that it battles a team ranked in the top 10. On Aug. 28, the Black and Gold fell to No. 1 North Carolina, 4-0, and two days later it upset then-No. 10 Duke, 3-2.
UCF will enter this week's action with a 3-1-1 record, and it will be its first home matches since the season-opening triumph over Florida Gulf Coast Aug. 21. So far the Knights have surrendered just six goals in five matches, and four of those were to the top-ranked Tar Heels. Senior Lynzee Lee posted shutouts of LSU and Florida International at last weekend's USF Tournament to earn Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Offensively, senior Courtney Whidden has primarily come off the bench this season, and currently leads UCF with three goals and seven points. Of the Knights' 10 goals in 2009, they have come from the feet of seven different players.
A quarterfinalist in last year's NCAA Tournament, FSU is 5-0-0 with wins against Jacksonville, South Alabama, Stetson, then-No. 10 Penn State and Washington State. Its first three victories were shutouts as the Seminoles have outscored the opposition 24-2 (16 goals have come in the second half) while taking 118 shots compared to allowing just 25. Jessica Price and Tiffany McCarty have already posted five goals apiece and Price has chipped in five assists for 15 points.
A yearly rivalry that goes back to the 2000 campaign, UCF and Florida State have met every year this decade, but the Knights' lone home victory over the Seminoles came in their first meeting in 1998. In 2007 in Orlando, No. 11 FSU held a 3-1 lead until UCF stormed back to post a 3-3 draw. Overall, the Seminoles hold 7-2-1 lead in the series.
USF stands at 1-2-1 for 2009, picking up a 1-0 win vs. Florida Atlantic before falling to Florida and LSU and playing FIU 0-0 tie. The Bulls have scored three goals and they have all been tallied by Noelle Pineiro. In net, Mallo Lofton-Malachi has 32 saves with two shutouts.
UCF occasionally took on USF in the exhibition season in recent years, and Sunday's tilt will be its first against the Bulls in the regular season since 2004. The Black and Gold claim a 3-1-0 advantage in the series, winning its last three games vs. USF.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to 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 UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.