PHILADELPHIA (UCFKnights.com) – UCF got back to its winning ways Sunday, defeating Temple 2-0 at the Temple Sports Complex. The victory moves the team back above .500 and keeps it in the middle of the pack in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
Senior Carlin Huegli provided the spark for the Knights in the first half, when she scored on her first touch, less than a minute after checking into the game. The goal was Huegli's second on the year and junior Cortney O'Connell also notched her second assist of the season on the play.
"Our players coming off the bench helped this team," head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "That would be my highlight for this game. I'm really proud of Carlin, this is the best season she has had. She has great energy and is a wonderful teammate. To see her scoring goals, making a difference, coming off the bench and helping her team, she deserves that."
The Knights saw quality minutes off the bench from others as well, including 34 minutes from Huegli, 51 each from junior Hannah DeBose and sophomore Carrie Lawrence, and 66 from junior defender Jen Vera. Vera had several key stops, thwarting seemingly any Temple threat that came her way.
By the Numbers
• UCF improves to 5-0-0 All-time against Temple.
• Huegli's second goal of the season was also her third-career goal and her first-career game-winner.
• Huegli totaled four shots and two points on the afternoon.
• Senior Carol Rodrigues buried her 10th goal of the season. The Knights are now 15-1-1 over the last two seasons when Rodrigues score.
• Freshman Zandy Soree earned her 4th assist of the season on the Rodrigues goal, her third helper in the last five games.
• The Knights tallied 15 total shots to the Owls 8 but managed to draw just 3 corner attempts
• UCF goalkeeper Vera Varis posted her fourth clean sheet of the season, collecting 4 saves in the Temple effort.
AAC Picture
• UCF improves to 2-2-1 in the AAC and is once again tied with rival USF and Cincinnati at seven points each.
• Uconn took sole possession of first with an undefeated conference record of 5-0-1.
• Temple fell to 0-6 while Memphis jumped into a tie for second with its win over Tulsa.
Next Up
UCF Soccer Presented by Napleton Volkswagon now heads home to meet Cincinnati Thursday Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.