Netzel’s Late Goal Leads UCF to 1-1 Draw vs. Utah ValleyNetzel’s Late Goal Leads UCF to 1-1 Draw vs. Utah Valley

Netzel’s Late Goal Leads UCF to 1-1 Draw vs. Utah Valley

by James Warnick
Box Score

ORLANDO – Chloe Netzel found the back of the net in the 85th minute to lead UCF to a 1-1 draw against Utah Valley in the 2024 home opener on Thursday night at the UCF Soccer Complex.

With the Wolverines (2-0-1) holding to a late 1-0 advantage, Netzel received a deep pass at the top of 18 from teammate Guta Franke and Netzel was able to beat the UVU defense with a laser shot into the bottom right corner for the tying goal to lead to the draw.

“Utah Valley is a very good opponent and has already produced some great results. I thought this was a great game and an early test for us,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “We created a lot of quality opportunities in the beginning of the first half and looked good early. Soccer is a sport where that comes to haunt you from time to time. But I’m proud of the team for creating a number of opportunities and showing that late fight. It was a gritty performance in those final minutes from our team and it shows what our team is capable of.”

The Knights (1-0-1) put the pressure on early with six shots, three of which were on goal, in the opening minutes. UCF ended outshooting UVU 11-6 over the first 45 minutes, but the score stayed even as the two took a scoreless draw into the break.

Still 0-0 with just 10 minutes to go, UVU—who is currently receiving votes for this week’s United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and has won back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles—managed to strike first with a goal from BYU transfer Ruby Hladek in the 81st minute.

The Black and Gold looked to respond with a shot from the Preseason All-Big 12 honoree Netzel just moments later, but it sailed off the mark.

Approaching five minutes remaining in the match, Mia Asenjo fed a ball back to the freshman Franke near midfield and Franke managed to lift a pass over the defense all the way to the top of the box to find Netzel for the game-tying goal. Netzel’s goal marked her team-leading third of the young season. The assist marked Franke’s second of the season and the first for Asenjo.

UCF would manage to get off a trio of shots in the final minutes, but the match would go on to end in the 1-1 draw.

The Knights outshot the Wolverines 24-17 on the night as well as 9-5 in shots on target. Utah Valley keeper CJ Graham finished with seven saves on the evening while UCF freshman Sami Lipcon recorded four.

Thursday’s contest featured a one-hour lightning delay prior to the start of the match.   

The Knights will now hit the road for an in-state battle on Sunday at Florida. Sunday’s match is set for a 6 p.m. start in Gainesville and will air live on SEC Network+.