TEMPE, Ariz. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 24 UCF women's soccer team used a pair of late goals to top Arizona, 2-1, at the Sun Devil Desert Classic on Friday evening at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
UCF (3-1) rallied in the final 12 minutes of action to overcome a one-goal deficit and top the Wildcats. Friday's victory marked the third consecutive win and second-straight come-from-behind victory.
"We were battling a good Arizona team, but in addition to that, we were also battling 110 degrees," UCF head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "(At halftime), we talked about battling through this heat. It was exhausting, but they did a good job with it."
After falling behind 1-0 in the 66th minute, UCF rallied. Just over 12 minutes later, senior Kayla Adamek connected on her first goal of the season to pull the Knights even. With just five minutes left in the game, freshman Madison Murnin delivered the game-winning goal for the Knights.
A pair of Knights recorded their first goals of the season in the win.
- Kayla Adamek recorded an assist in the wins over Stetson and North Carolina, but had yet to find the back of the net herself this season. That changed in the 78th minute as she netted the equalizer.
- Freshman Madison Murnin scored her first career goal – and her first career game-winner – in the 85th minute.
- The spread of wealth on the offensive end continues. All six of UCF's goals this season have come from different Knights.
The game was a tale of two halves.
- Arizona held the edge in shots and corner kicks as the teams headed into halftime tied 0-0.
- The Knights flipped the script in the second half, out-shooting the Wildcats 16-2 and taking two corner kicks.
- After the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the 66th minute, UCF turned up its intensity and found the net twice in less than 10 minutes to clinch its third straight victory.
The Knights return to action on Sunday, facing Arizona State in the Sun Devil Desert Classic action. The teams are slated for a 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT start.
DON'T MISS OUT
The UCF women's soccer team is set for its fifth season under head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and will welcome six teams from the 2016 NCAA Tournament to the UCF Soccer Complex in 2017. Click here or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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