TAMPA, Fla. – The UCF women’s soccer team found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision to South Florida on Thursday night at Corbett Soccer Stadium.
A late goal proved to be the difference in a hard-fought contest, as USF’s Elyse Thornton found the back of the net in the 86th minute to break a scoreless tie.
The result marks the Knights’ first setback of the season, as they fall to 2-1-2. The Bulls improve to 4-1-1 with the victory.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster. We had the better part of the first half where we created a lot of chances. But soccer is a game where if you don’t put away your chances it kind of comes back to haunt you,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “We just have to find a way to bounce back and put away our chances when we create those opportunities.”
The Knights were on the attack early, as they fired off a trio of good looks in the opening minutes of action. Mia Asenjo opened the series of events with a shot that went just wide in the third minute. Daniella Chung later had an opportunity in the 11th minute that was saved by USF’s keeper Leire Herraez Gallach and Chloe Netzel capped the early offensive action with a shot that was again saved in the 14th minute.
With the game scoreless at the half, the Bulls came out and got off a trio of quick shots in the 52nd minute that UCF keeper Sami Lipcon was able to save all three to keep the contest scoreless.
52' - Sami Lipcon with back-to-back-to-back saves!
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) September 6, 2024
UCF 0, USF 0 pic.twitter.com/FCUvycraZI
Still scoreless in the 76th minute, Asenjo fed a ball ahead to Netzel and Netzel fired off a shot that the USF keeper was just able to get a hand on and push it off the post to keep it 0-0.
76' - Chloe with a good look in the 76th minute.
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) September 6, 2024
UCF 0, USF 0 pic.twitter.com/Hzwu9eRzm2
The Knights later looked to have drawn a penalty kick in the 83rd minute as Ella Holloran was fouled in the box. But after review, the official reversed the call and said no offense was committed by USF’s Georgia Brown and no penalty kick was awarded.
In the 86th minute, a South Florida cross into the box was deflected out to the left side and USF’s Elyse Thornton was there and managed to slip a ball past UCF’s Lipcon on near side for the goal.
The Black and Gold got a late shot on target from distance from Chung in the final minutes, but the Bulls managed to record the save and would go on to pick up the victory.
Despite allowing the late goal, UCF freshman Lipcon had a nice night in goal by recording a season-high 10 saves. Offensively, Netzel paced the Knights with six shots, three of which that were on frame.
Thursday’s contest marked UCF’s final non-conference match of the 2024 campaign. It also featured a 55-minute lightning delay, as the match didn’t begin until 7:55 p.m.
The Knights will now return home to prepare for Big 12 Conference play, as they welcome Houston to town for their Big 12 opener on Thursday, Sept. 12. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start at the UCF Soccer Complex.