July 9, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Three members of the UCF women's soccer team helped the Tampa Bay Hellenic clinch the Sunshine Conference Championship this past weekend at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa. Senior Andrea Rodrigues and juniors Marleigh Howard and Kristen Poulton along with the rest of the Hellenic bested the Clermont Phoenix, 1-0, in the summer league match.
The Tampa Bay Hellenic competes as a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, an independent national league whose main focus is on the development of highly competitive premier women's soccer teams.
In the first half, Rodrigues drew a foul when she was tackled just outside the 18-yard box. Her teammate, Rachel Price, capitalized off the direct free kick to put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard. The game was eventually called due to weather, and the Hellenic were credited with the win.
Although it still has two games left to play, the team's win on Sunday kept the year's undefeated streak intact and clinched its second-consecutive championships season. After winning conference last year, the Hellenic traveled to Chicago to participate in the WPSL Final Four but lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Red Stars.
"To win the season again is an amazing accomplishment, especially when we have so many players from all over Florida, and most of us have never played together until this summer," Rodrigues said. "I'm so proud of the team, and the effort that they put into every game. It's already hard to be consistent every game in soccer, and during summer it seems to get harder with being on vacation. But these girls come out and give their all every game. The coaching staff does a great job of motivating us. I'm excited to finish the summer strong."