Aug. 21, 2015
Final Stats
UCF vs. Florida Gators - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 17 UCF women's soccer team didn't have enough magic to pull off a win over No. 8 Florida in the highly anticipated season opener Friday night. The Knights fell 2-0 to their instate rival.
UF's Mayra Pelayo broke through on her first shot attempt as a Gator when she struck from the right wing and buried it to the upper left corner in the 31st minute.
Savannah Jordan added an insurance goal with her header off a cross from Pamela Begic in the 60th minute.
Perhaps UCF's best chance came from a Bridget Callahan header with roughly 30 minutes remaining in the match. She received a ball in front of the goal off a free kick from Katarina Naumanen, but her flick went right of the post.
"We are a work in progress right now and that's OK. I think that's what the beginning of the season is about - to be tested early and do what we need to do to improve," UCF head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "I told the team, 'We were outplayed tonight, let's learn from this early on. I'm not worried. Let's not be worried. We have to pick ourselves back up. We created chances, we had opportunities.'"
Playing Time
* With 15 newcomers on the team, eight Knights clocked their first minutes in Black and Gold uniforms Friday.
* Goalkeeper Francesca Fischer, a transfer from Louisville, served all 90 minutes in between the posts.
* Katarina Naumanen, Cortney O'Connell, Carol Rodrigues, Julia Moore, Morgan Ferrara, Maura Aman and Jessica Taylor all appeared in the season opener.
Packed House
* The UCF-Florida showdown was one of three Top-20 matchups in the country on Friday night and brought in a robust crowd.
* The season opener drew 1,126, which fell just short of the top five home crowds in program history.
Up Next
* UCF returns to the field on Sunday at home at 1 p.m. against Jacksonville.
* The Knights and Dolphins will meet for the first time in four years.
* Sunday's match will be the only home game over the next two weeks.
Story by Jenna Marina