HOUSTON – Despite scoring a pair of second half goals, UCF women’s soccer fell to Big 12 newcomer Arizona, 3-2, on Thursday night in neutral-site action at UH’s Carl Lewis International Complex in Houston, Texas.
Originally scheduled as a home match for the Knights, Thursday’s contest was moved to the University of Houston earlier in the week due to Hurricane Milton. UCF drops to 3-4-4 overall and 1-3-2 in Big 12 play with the result, while the Wildcats move to 9-3-2 and 4-2-1 in league play.
“I’m really proud of the team for responding in the second half. We competed and looked more like us,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “We have to pick ourselves back up now and get ready for Colorado on the road.”
The Wildcats were the first to get things going with a goal in the 12th minute to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Gianna Christiansen found the back of the net on the lower left corner on an assist from teammate Narissa Fults.
Arizona added to its lead in the 31st minute, as Nicole Dallin scored in the center of the net on an assist from Christiansen to make it 2-0.
Having recently entered the game, senior Chloe Netzel had a nice look for the Knights in the 33rd minute but the shot was saved.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, the Knights were the aggressors in the early stages of the second half. Following a shot on goal from Netzel, Honoka Hamano managed to put the Black and Gold on the board with a goal in the 47th minute to make it a one-goal game. The goal marked Hamano’s second of the season and was assisted by Maria Tregansin.
Following a couple of shots from Netzel that were off target, the UCF leading scorer managed to tie things up with her team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 62nd minute. Netzel’s goal was scored in the bottom right corner and assisted by Tregansin for Tregansin’s first collegiate two assist game.
The Black and Gold continued on the attack, as Mia Asenjo and Annika Huhta took shots over the next couple of minutes but they both went off target. Netzel had another good chance in the 74th minute but the shot was saved by Arizona’s Olivia Ramey.
The Wildcats were later awarded a penalty kick in the 81st minute, as UCF’s Kyleigh Thelen was whistled for a foul in the box. Arizona’s Christiansen managed to convert the PK for her second goal of the game to give UA a late 3-2 advantage.
The Knights got off a pair of late shots on goal from Asenjo and Netzel in the closing minute and a half, but UA’s Ramey managed to make the save on each attempt to help the Wildcats hold on for the victory.
Thursday’s contest marked UCF’s fourth of five consecutive matches away from home.
The Black and Gold will conclude the stretch with a game at Colorado on Sunday afternoon. UCF and CU will do battle from Prentup Field in Boulder on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET/noon MT.