Vs. FIU (09-08) - Images by UCF KnightsORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The Knights offense erupted against FIU Thursday, shutting out the Panthers 5-0 at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The effort matches the most goals scored by the Knights in a single game since joining the American Athletic Conference. The last time came back in 2013, with a 5-0 dismantling of UNF.
Five different Knights found the back of the net, including junior Julia Moore and sophomore Carrie Lawrence who each tallied their first of the year. Seniors Carol Rodrigues and Cortney O'Connell and junior Morgan Ferrara also added to their individual totals with a goal each.
"It's like a dream come true for a coach to have so many people involved," head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "We played a lot of people off the bench. Our defense played great and it was nice that we were able to throw some different people up top."
UCF dominated in their own end as well, keeping the Panthers from taking a single shot on goal. Vera Varis earned her second clean sheet of the season and lowered her goals against average to 1.42. The Black and Gold out-shot FIU 19-0 and earned 10 corners while holding their opponents to just two.
Padding the Stats
* Carol Rodrigues netted her 6th goal of the year; the Knights are now 11-1-1 over the last two seasons when she has at least one goal.
* Julia Moore scored her first goal of the season on a penalty kick after Rodrigues was taken down in the box during a Knights attack.
* Sophomore Carrie Lawrence scored her first goal of 2016 on a feed from junior Hannah DeBose in the 58th minute.
* Morgan Ferrara got her 2nd goal of the season and added an assist for a total of 3 points on the evening.
* UCF recorded 4 total assists from DeBose (2), junior Saga Fredriksson (1) and freshman Zandy Soree (1).
* Junior Cortney O'Connell's goal in the 29th minute turned out to be the game winner, raising her total to 3 goals on the year.
Miscellaneous Mentions
* The Knights improve to 29-4-3 all-time against FIU and are now 19-4-2 in the month of September under Roberts Sahaydak.
* Freshman Defender Julia Ekholm took a breather, subbing out for the first time all year in the 75th minute. Her streak ends at 7 games started (6 complete including OT vs. OK State) and 620-straight minutes played.
* 8 different players have scored 16 total goals for the Knights this season, averaging 2.42 goals per game as a team.
* Rodrigues is on pace to score 15 goals this season, which would top her 2015 total by 4. Achieving that total would see her tie for 5th all-time among UCF strikers.
Next Up
* UCF Women's Soccer, Presented by Napleton's Volkswagon, will head south to take on FGCU Sunday Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. in Fort Meyers, Fla.
