Nov. 7, 2014
Box Score
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 19 UCF women's soccer team bowed out of the American Athletic Conference Championship in Friday night's 1-0 loss to fourth-seeded UConn.
The Knights (16-4-0) were put on their heels early and couldn't find enough rhythm to recover to earn a finals berth for the second-straight season.
UConn's Rachel Hill slipped behind Goalkeeper of the Year Connie Organ as she attempt to grab a ball kicked by Lindsey Watkins in the box, and put the Huskies on the board in the 6th minute. The Huskies hung on to best the Knights for the second time this season - marking UCF's only losses to a conference opponent this year.
"Those are the type of goals she scores. She's just quick and we got caught off guard," UCF head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "Honestly, we got better as the game went on. We did improve from the last time we lost against them because in the first game, we never regained our composure. Tonight I felt like with every moment we got better and better, and we ran out of time. We just have to move on."
UCF's best opportunity of the first half came from Ashley Spivey, who found the ball after it was batted around to the top of the box, but her attempt was saved with 12 minutes to go.
The Knights nearly equalized it with 90 seconds remaining in the half when Sophie Howard flicked a header toward the right post. Coleman rushed toward the ball, but UConn keeper Allison Saucier was there to create enough of a distraction to thwart her attempt.
Hill and Julie Hubbard combined for a give-and-go goal that was cited offside in the opening minute of the second half, helping UCF stay in the hunt.
But the Knights were never able to get a solid look at the net. Time and again chances were blocked or cleared out of the box.
UCF, who was ranked 16th in RPI standings heading into the weekend, will find out its postseason fate in the NCAA Tournament when the Selection Show airs on ncaa.com Monday at 4:30 p.m.
The Knights have earned 18 berths to the Big Dance, including an active streak of seven-consecutive appearances.