Sept. 1, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Three first-half goals paved the way for UCF's men's soccer team to post a 5-0 win at home vs. Jacksonville in the regular-season opener for both teams Wednesday. Cameron Cooksey netted two goals and added an assist, while Nicholas Keown-Robson collected one goal and a pair of assists in the win.
"It's about playing both halves, playing all 90 minutes and making sure we're constantly putting pressure on the opposing team. And tonight we were able to do that. We created some chances and scored some great goals" said head coach Bryan Cunningham. "A credit to our players, their attacking movement was very good tonight. They were opportunistic and we finished chances. We have different guys we can count on who can put the ball into the back of the net and that's crucial."
Keown-Robson paced all players with five shots, putting three on goal. In net, Shawn Doyle stood strong, making four saves for the shutout.
JU pressured in the opening minute only did not connect when Garrett Harvey's shot clanked off the crossbar. Yet the home team wanted to capture some offensive momentum and started putting the heat on the Dolphins' backs. Five minutes into the half, a cross into the box bounced around and finally traveled over to Cooksey on the far right side but his shot sailed wide left.
The Knights kept at it and finally prevailed in the 12th minute to net its first goal of 2010. After Cooksey sent it over to Keown-Robson, the sophomore fired a shot from straight on net that bounced into Johnny Foley's arms. However the keeper could not control it and lost it to a waiting Spencer Scott who corralled the rebound and easily delivered the 1-0 lead.
That quickly changed in the 23rd minute as the Black and Gold pushed it to 2-0. This time Keown-Robson found Cooksey who sprinted through the left portion of the box, past the JU defense and beat Foley 1-on-1, hitting the far right part of the net.
The first half ultimately closed out with another UCF goal in the 40th minute. After a long ball from Andrew Quintana down the right side, Luiz Yamashita dribbled into the box and got taken down for the foul. Keown-Robson then took over for the penalty kick and smoothly placed it into the net.
Both teams would have opportunities in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Following a pair of point-blank saves from JU's keeper early in the stanza, the visitors tried to answer when Anthony Forde witnessed his shot 12 minutes in fire off the crossbar, and Darko Karamatic tried to put home the rebound only to have the UCF backs get in the way.
Play calmed down a bit until Yaron Bacher decided it was time to make a run for goal of the year in the first match of 2010. Gathering possession from approximately 40 yards away, the senior slaughtered an attempt that had eyes straight into the top-left corner, causing the entire UCF Soccer Complex to drop their jaws in the 77th minute.
And looking for a multi-goal evening before the final horn, Cooksey connected from close range on a rebound off an original shot off the foot of Matt Heffernan in the 89th minute, sewing up the 5-0 win.
UCF will now set its sights on hosting Florida Atlantic Monday at 3 p.m. It will be the last time the Knights will be at home until Oct. 2 vs. SMU.