Oct. 26, 2010
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 18 UCF men's soccer team used a late goal from junior Cameron Cooksey (Marietta, Ga.) and an insurance goal in the final minute of the game to edge Stetson, 2-0, Tuesday night at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Knights continue to roll late in the season as the win pushes their unbeaten streak to nine games (7-0-2). The victory was also the 10th of the year for UCF (10-2-2), marking the first time since the 2004 season that the program has reached the 10-win plateau. Stetson dropped to 8-5-1 with the loss.
"It was a hard-fought game," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "Stetson is a good opponent and I'm pleased that our players were up to the task. The goals in the second half were key for us to continue to play well at home as we have done all season."
After an uneventful first half of play, both teams came out looking for more offensive output in the second stanza.
It would take until the 78th minute for either team to find the back of the net as Cooksey finished a brilliant crossing feed from sophomore Luiz Yamashita (Sao Paulo, Brazil) along the goal line. Kevan George (Roxborough, Trinidad) also picked up an assist on the winning goal as he fed Yamashita along the far sideline.
Yamashita made a move past a defender to the left of the goal before putting a crossing pass to the far post. Cooksey, who had just reentered the game two minutes before, stationed himself at the front of the net to finish the cross for the winner.
With the Hatters pressuring in the final minutes looking for the equalizer, the defense moved up closer to midfield. Yamashita saw an opening for an insurance goal with the shift. George hit Yamashita in stride with a pass he threaded between two defenders beyond midfield. Yamashita beat the defense and put a well-placed shot past the Stetson goalkeeper for the second UCF tally with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock.
Goalkeeper Shawn Doyle (Ft. Myers, Fla.) was not tested a great deal in the game, but when called upon, he made several key stops late for his sixth shutout of the season. Dan Billman recorded three saves for the Hatters in the loss.
UCF continues its dominating play at home as it shutout its fifth opponent in six home games this season. The Knights have outscored their opponents at the UCF Soccer Complex by an 18-1 figure in 2010.
"Hopefully we can get out legs back under us after a game like this one tonight as we get ready for a really tough game Friday against UAB," Cunningham added.
The Knights return to action on Friday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the final C-USA home game of the season. UCF will play host to UAB in an afternoon tilt that will precede the UCF women's game with Southern Miss. The Knights are in a battle for first place in C-USA as they are one-point back of SMU headed into Friday's match with the Blazers.