MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A West Virginia goal in the 55th minute proved to be the difference, as the UCF women’s soccer team fell 1-0 to WVU in Big 12 action on Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown.
The Knights drop to 3-3-4 overall and 1-2-2 in the Big 12 play with the result, while the first-place Mountaineers improve to 9-2-2 on the season and remain unbeaten in conference play at 5-0-1.
“I’m really proud of our performance tonight,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Even though we didn’t get the result, we played with a lot of fight and composure. Our team is very resilient and we will continue to fight."
The Black and Gold had a chance to get on the board in the 18th minute, as Edidiong Etim lifted a cross over the top to an open Ella Holloran on the left side. Holloran’s shot sailed just wide, however, as the match remained scoreless.
UCF had another opportunity in the 27th minute, as Mia Asenjo dribbled around a couple of defenders for a good look on the left side, but the shot went just high. Chloe Netzel later followed with a chance of her own just off the bench with a header off a corner kick in the 31st minute but the shot was saved by WVU’s Mackenzie Smith.
WVU had a couple of shots towards the end of the first half, but the game remained scoreless at the break.
Early in the second half, UCF senior Caitlyn Matthews took a shot just outside the 18 but it went just over the top to keep it 0-0.
Black and Gold keeper Sami Lipcon made a nice save off a shot from WVU’s Taylor White in the 52nd minute but the Mountaineers later managed to break the scoreless tie with a goal from Lilly McCarthy in the 55th minute. After a flurry of shots by West Virginia, the Mountaineers were able to draw a penalty kick in the 55th minute. Lipcon read the play well and made a diving stop on McCarthy’s PK attempt, but McCarthy was able to find the back of the net off the rebound to give WVU a 1-0 lead.
Etim later had a chance in the 67th minute as she got off a good look from the right side with her left foot, but her shot was saved.
67' - Edi with a good look in the 67th minute.
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 5, 2024
WVU 1, UCF 0 pic.twitter.com/RcVHsgMmna
Again, newly in the game in the second half, Netzel had header off a corner kick in the 72nd minute but the ball was cleared by the WVU defense just before it crossed the line to keep it a 1-0 West Virginia advantage.
UCF’s leading scorer Netzel again had an opportunity in the 85th minute as Honoka Hamano chipped a pass to the Black and Gold captain towards the center of the box, but her header was saved to keep it a 1-0 game.
85' - Chloe with a chance off the header.
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 5, 2024
WVU 1, UCF 0 pic.twitter.com/bnFe0fvgwq
The Knights looked to make something else happen in the closing minutes, but WVU managed to hold on for the victory.
Despite suffering the setback, Black and Gold keeper Lipcon finished with a game-high six saves on the night.
The contest marked the conclusion of a three-game road swing for the Knights.
The Black and Gold will now return home to welcome Big 12 newcomer Arizona to town on Oct. 10 at the UCF Soccer Complex. The match will mark the Space Game for UCF and is set to begin at 7 p.m.