TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women’s soccer team ended its American Athletic Conference Championship run in a 1-0 semifinal loss against No. 18/19 Memphis at Corbett Stadium on Friday evening.
Inclement weather in the Tampa area delayed the start of the match, but the rain was no match for Vera Varis in the first half. The senior goalkeeper made three saves to keep the second-seeded Tigers off the scoreboard in the first 45 minutes of play. Varis made five saves in the game as Memphis held a 13-5 edge in shots.
Offensively, the Knights (10-7) were unable to find their rhythm against the Tigers (16-3) in the first half, taking just a pair of shots.
Making halftime adjustments, UCF picked up its intensity at the start of the second half.
The Knights nearly took the first lead of the match, as Kristen Scott collected a pass from Elise Legrout and sent it in the back of the net in the 47th minute, but the marker was waved off as the offside flag was raised before the goal.
Memphis tallied the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute, as a header from Marie Levasseur snuck in the goal just over the outstretched hand of Varis.
Scott and Varis were named to the 2018 American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
The Knights will learn their fate for the NCAA Tournament when the selection show airs on NCAA.com on Monday.
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