Oct. 18, 2009
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
HOUSTON, Texas (UCFAthletics.com) - For the fourth-straight match, senior midfielder Becca Thomas netted the game-winning goal to enable the No. 12 UCF women's soccer team to get past Houston on the road Sunday, 2-1. Thomas scored both of the Knights' goals on penalty kicks with the deciding tally coming with 4:31 remaining in regulation to stretch UCF's record to 12-3-1 on the year and 7-1-0 in Conference USA.
"We are relieved to come away with two wins this weekend," said head coach Amanda Cromwell. "Today was a tough battle on the road against a very tenacious team. I think Houston played a disruptive, combative style and we couldn't get our rhythm. But in the end we feel good about getting the win, and we know every game from here on out is going to be like this, so we have to be prepared mentally for some tough matches ahead."
The reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week after netting the deciding goals against UTEP and Colorado College last weekend, Thomas gave the Knights a 2-1 win at Rice Oct. 16 with a marker in the 70th minute before putting two in the back of the net Sunday against the Cougars (4-9-2, 2-4-2).
UCF has now won six-straight C-USA matches to remain all alone atop the league standings. It also was the 10th-consecutive game the Knights outshot their opponent, finishing with a 13-12 edge vs. UH. In net, sophomore Aline Reis made six saves including four in the second half to give her 156 stops in her career. She now needs 10 more saves to move into a tie for fifth on the UCF all-time list.
"We credit Houston. I thought they outworked us and outplayed us," said associate head coach Colby Hale. "They had a good game plan and stuck to it. I'm proud of the Sunday conference road win and we certainly don't take those for granted. As an attack, that was not a good performance, and that falls squarely on my back. We will be more prepared for SMU on Friday."
While UCF led in shots, 7-3, through the first half, neither team could light up the scoreboard. It was not until the 75th minute that the Knights capitalized. With junior Kim Newsome controlling action in the box, she drew a foul which ultimately led to Thomas' first PK goal.
The Knights remained in the lead only to witness UH's Morgan Vela tie it with only 5:12 showing on the clock on a goal from a crossing pass from Jessica Zavalza. However, just 41 seconds later, sophomore Katie Jackson played a ball to Thomas who beat a defender and also drew a foul in the box. Moments later, Thomas sealed the weekend sweep with her fifth goal of the year on her second PK try of the day.
UCF will make a return trip to Texas next weekend when it visits SMU Friday at 8 p.m. ET, while it also will meet Tulsa in Oklahoma Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. The regular season finale is set for Oct. 30 in Orlando against Southern Miss at 7 p.m.
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.
Postgame Notes
No. 12 UCF (12-3-1, 7-1-0) - 2
Houston (4-9-2, 2-4-2) - 1
Goals: UCF Becca Thomas (4) 75th, UH Morgan Vela (1) 85th, UCF Becca Thomas (5) 86th
-With four game-winning goals this year, Becca Thomas has nine GWG for her career, which puts her in sole possession of sixth on the Knights' all-time chart.
-Thomas racked up seven shots against the Cougars, tying her career-high in a match (she also had seven vs. SMU Oct. 27, 2006).
-The only other Knight to attempt more than one shot was Amanda Martorana who had two, both on goal.
-UCF led Houston in corner kicks, 6-1, as the Knights improved to 5-0-0 all-time against the Cougars.
-The six-match winning streak is the longest since UCF won six-consecutive outings during the 2007 campaign.
-The six-straight victories in conference play is UCF's longest streak since it accomplished the feat in 2005.
-UCF already has seven C-USA victories with three matches left in the regular season. The Knights posted seven league wins total in 2006, 2007 and 2008. If the Knights can notch a victory in each of their last three games, they will tie the school record for most conference wins in a season (10 set in 2002 when UCF was a member of the Atlantic Sun). Their record for most victories while in C-USA is eight set in their first year in the league in 2005.