Nov. 8, 2009
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
DALLAS, Texas (UCFAthletics.com) - Three second-half goals gave Memphis a 3-0 win over the No. 9 UCF women's soccer team Sunday in the Conference USA Championship title game in Dallas. The loss ended the Knights' 10-game winning streak and dropped their record to 16-4-1 on the season.
With an RPI in the top-10 entering Sunday's match, UCF still has a great chance to receive an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPNews.
It was the third-straight tournament crown for the third-seeded Tigers (16-6-0), and the third-consecutive season they bounced the No. 1 seeded Knights from the C-USA Championship.
UCF did lead Memphis with a 15-7 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks, but placed just four of those shots on goal.
Both teams had a couple of scoring chances in the first half however neither team placed a shot on target. Memphis then used its speed when the second half got underway to jump on top 1-0 in the 58th minute as Lizzy Simonin beat the UCF defense and put it in the far right side.
UCF had a great chance a short time after the goal when Memphis was called for a foul and it could have been ruled a penalty kick, but instead the Knights earned a free kick a few inches outside the box and Becca Thomas' shot barely glanced off the left-side of the Memphis wall in front of the net.
With the Black and Gold unable to capitalize, the Tigers came right back with two more goals, one each from Averi Hallman and Vendula Strnadova, to ultimately clinch the title.
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, and become a follow of the Knights at Twitter.com.
Postgame Notes
Memphis (16-6-0) - 3
No. 9 UCF (16-4-1) - 0
Goals: MEM Lizzy Simonin (4) 58th, MEM Averi Hallman (2) 68th, MEM Vendula Strnadova (5) 73rd
-All four of UCF's defeats this year were shutout losses.
-It was the Knights' first loss on a neutral surface this season (3-1-1).
-Becca Thomas led all players in the match with four shots, two on goal.
-Looking for an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, UCF has received an at-large spot to the dance in each of the last two seasons. It also was at-large team as a member of the Atlantic Sun in 2004. In those three trips, the Knights reached the Second Round each time.
C-USA All-Tournament Team
Taylor Isenhower, Memphis (Offensive MVP)
Elise Kuhar-Pitters, Memphis (Defensive MVP)
Tori Dalton, Memphis
Lizzy Hildebrandt, Memphis
Lauren Halbert, UCF
Amanda Martorana, UCF
Becca Thomas, UCF
Brittney Lyman, Colorado College
Lauren Talbot, Colorado College
Kate Blankenship, UAB
Marie Yempuku, UAB