Tulsa, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's soccer team clinched a berth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament Thursday, after defeating Tulsa 2-0 on the road.
"We really wanted to focus on this game," head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. "I think we can get distracted if we are too worried about other results and scenarios. I'm just really glad we were able to focus on Tulsa and put together the best performance possible."
The win, combined with a USF loss to Memphis, guaranteed one of the six spots in the AAC tournament will belong to the Black and Gold. The Knights will finish somewhere among the 4-6 seed pending the outcome of Sunday's matches.
Uconn and Memphis have each clinched first round byes and the tournament will be hosted by the No. 1 seed. The Huskies currently hold a one point advantage over the Tigers and could lock up home field with a win at East Carolina Sunday or a Memphis loss.
The AAC tournament will be a three-round single-elimination event with matches on November 2, 4, and 6.
Numbers Knight
• UCF improves to 9-7-1 on the season including 4-3-0 at home and 5-3-1 on the road.
• Junior Christine Creighton tallied her first goal of the season, putting away the eventual game winner in the 31st minute.
• Goalkeeper Vera Varis earned her fifth shutout of the season and third in conference play. She now boasts a 1.21 goals against average and 22 saves in AAC play.
• Junior Morgan Ferrara scored her seventh goal of the season and second in as many matches after burying the overtime winner against East Carolina last Sunday.
• Freshman defender Julia Ekholm notched her second-straight match with an assist and now has two on the season.
• Six Knights played the entire 90 minutes.
American Analysis
• The Knights improve to 4-3-1 in AAC play.
• UConn and Memphis will finish as the No. 1 and No. 2 seed pending the outcome of Sunday's matches while SMU is guaranteed the No. 3 seed.
• Tulsa, USF and Cincinnati will battle for the final two spots in the AAC tournament.
• UCF would clinch the No. 4 seed with a victory over Memphis or a tie between USF and Tulsa on Sunday.
Next Up
UCF Soccer Presented by Napleton Volkswagon will remain on the road, taking on Memphis October 30 at 2 p.m.
