Oct. 4, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF (3-4-2, 0-2-0 C-USA) attacked the goal throughout and outshot visiting South Carolina (5-3-1, 1-0-0 C-USA) 19-10, but the Knights could not overcome two USC penalty kicks in a 3-1 defeat Sunday afternoon in Conference USA men's soccer action at the UCF Soccer Complex.
"We got off to a good start with an early goal and had a lot of momentum, but unfortunately we gave up three goals in the first half with two penalty kicks and a deflected goal," said head coach Bryan Cunningham.
The Knights came out on the attack from the start and earned a throw-in near the South Carolina goal. USC attempted to clear the throw in from sophomore Cameron Cooksey (Marietta, Ga.), but Yaron Bacher (Atlanta, Ga.) found it and ripped a shot from outside the box into the back of the net. The marker was the UCF captain's first of the season.
Two whistles in the box within a four-minute stretch allowed USC to take the lead on a pair of Sam Arthur penalty kicks in the 12th and 15th minutes.
The Gamecocks added an insurance marker in the 38th minute when Bryan Lowder fired a shot from the top of the box which was deflected past UCF keeper Shawn Doyle (Fort Myers, Fla.).
In the second half alone, UCF outshot USC 13-4, but were unable to cut into the Gamecock lead. The Knights had terrific chances from Michele Martucci (Miami, Fla.) and Malcolm Reed (Summerville, S.C.), but USC keeper Jimmy Maurer was up to the task each time.
"I thought we played really well in the second half but we got beet by a really good goalkeeper," Cunningham said. "Jimmy Maurer played extraordinary there in the second half and kept the ball out of the net and we could not push it over the line."
UCF will return to action Wednesday when they travel to play at FIU in a Conference USA game in Miami at 7 p.m.
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Soccer Game Summary (Final)
USC vs UCF (Oct 04, 2009 at Orlando, Fla.)
USC (5-3-1, 1-0-0 C-USA) vs. UCF (3-4-2, 0-2-0 C-USA)
Date: Oct 04, 2009 Attendance: 403
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
USC........................ 3 0 - 3
UCF........................ 1 0 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 4:20 UCF Bacher, Yaron (1) (COOKSEY, Cam) - long throw cleared outside the 18, beat keeper far post
2. 11:14 USC ARTHUR, Sam (4) Penalty kick
3. 14:55 USC ARTHUR, Sam (5) Penalty kick
4. 37:44 USC LOWDER, Bryan (1) (unassisted) - shot from top of box deflected past keeper
Shots: USC 10, UCF 19
Saves: USC 6 (MAURER, Jimmy 6), UCF 2 (Doyle, Shawn 2)
Corner Kicks: USC 1, UCF 5
Fouls: USC 17, UCF 5
Offsides: USC 0, UCF 1