Aug. 19, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 12 UCF women's soccer team (2-0) steamrolled to a 4-0 win over defending Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast (1-1) on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights shined just as much offensively, boasting four different scorers, as they did defensively, picking up their first shutout of the season. Moreover, UCF controlled the game from start to finish, recording 22 shots compared to the Eagles' five - three on goal - through 90 minutes of play.
UCF junior defender Marissa Diggs got things going early when she headed in a corner kick from senior Andrea Rodrigues two minutes into the game.
The Eagles nearly tied it up twice over the next 10 minutes but junior keeper Lianne Maldonado came up with two saves to secure the shutout.
"We got caught flat, the defenders lost concentration for a moment and Lianne made a big-time save," UCF head coach Amanda Cromwell said. "That could have given Florida Gulf Coast some confidence and could have made it a completely different game. But we went down from that play and scored a few minutes later to make it 2-0. That was a big turnaround there. It was Lianne's first big challenge of the year and she made a huge save for us.
"Connie (Organ) played the second half and did a good job of making sure everything was organized. We didn't give up a corner kick, so that was good defensively. There were some things we wanted to do better with our possessions, but overall it was a complete game."
In the 13th minute, sophomore Jennifer Martin scored her second goal of the weekend when she intercepted a pass and left-footed a shot to the far post in the low right corner of the net to increase UCF's edge to 2-0.
After minimal action for much of the second half, the Knights closed out the game in style when senior Tishia Jewell assisted two goals in the final three minutes.
Jewell nearly scored off a bicycle kick in the 87th minute, but the shot hit the post, allowing senior Nicolette Radovcic to rebound for the score. Fifty-seven seconds later, Jewell slotted a ball to junior Kristina Trujic, who floated a shot from 30 yards out over FGCU's goalkeeper to cap the game with a 4-0 advantage.
With her two assists, Jewell jumps to No. 6 on UCF's career assist leaders with 28, needing just one more to crack into the top five.
UCF holds its home opener Friday against No. 4 Florida State at 7 p.m. Season tickets are available for UCF's 11 home games, beginning at $30. This year's purchase comes with a complimentary soccer scarf to wear to the games. To purchase, call (407) UCF-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com.