Oct. 7, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Standing at 8-2-2 overall and 3-0-1 in Conference USA, the No. 19 UCF women's soccer team has a very important home weekend ahead when it hosts Houston Friday at 7 p.m. and Rice Sunday at 1 p.m. The Knights, who are No. 14 in the latest RPI rankings, are in third place in C-USA, trailing the Cougars and the Owls who are both 4-0-0 in league play this year.
During the match against Houston, the soccer program will be collecting donations for the non-profit organization Feeding Children Everywhere. Student-athletes are working with the Honors College and are hoping to raise money to provide and package meals for needy children across the nation. The founder of Feeding Children Everywhere, Don Campbell, and his youth girls soccer team will be at the main entrance at the northwest corner of the UCF Soccer Complex accepting donations.
The match-ups with Houston and Rice could play a major factor in determining the six-team C-USA Championship field Nov. 3-7 held at UCF. This weekend's games feature free admission to the UCF Soccer Complex.
Holding a 4-0-2 record in its last six outings, the Knights are 12-0-1 in their previous 13 C-USA regular-season matches, and are looking to repeat as regular-season champions in 2010.
The Knights are coming off a 1-0-1 road trip where it tied previously-ranked Memphis, 1-1, and defeated UAB, 3-2. Three central Florida natives combined for the four goals, as Tishia Jewell (Satellite Beach, Fla.) scored the equalizer with less than two minutes remaining vs. the Tigers, Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla.) hit the back of the net twice against the Blazers and Kim Newsome (Apopka, Fla.) also scored vs. UAB.
The trio has a combined 47 points for the Black and Gold, with Jewell and Jackson tied for the team-lead with six goals and Newsome right behind them with five goals.
Houston (9-2-1 overall) has won six-straight entering the weekend, including three 1-0 victories in C-USA matches (two in overtime). Over that stretch it has outscored opponents, 15-1. On the season, the Cougars have allowed just five goals with keeper Camille Koski collecting six shutouts and a 0.46 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Lauri Byrne and Sami Sackos each have 11 points and have combined for nine goals.
Rice kicked off the 2010 campaign with a 1-3-0 record before going 6-2-0 in its last eight decisions for a 7-5-0 record overall. Meghan Erkel carries a 1.36 GAA in net with 35 saves, while Hope Ward paces the Owls with 12 points on three goals and six assists.
UCF owns a 5-0-0 record all-time against Houston, and a 5-1-0 mark vs. Rice, however the Owls defeated the Knights in overtime in their previous trip to Orlando.