ORLANDO – The UCF women’s soccer team found the back of the next four times en route to defeating South Florida 4-1 late Thursday night at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The Knights move to 3-0-0 on the season with the victory while USF drops to 1-2-0 with the setback. UCF has now won three of its last four meetings over the Bulls.
“It feels good,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “We have some good individual players that can get things done. A number of them really stepped up for us and played well tonight. It was a great team effort.”
The Black and Gold opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, as Tyra Eriksen raced a ball down the left side and found Ella Holloran in the box for the goal to make it 1-0. Holloran’s goal marked her first of the season and the second of her career.
23' | Holloran slots it home‼️
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 22, 2025
UCF 1, USF 0 pic.twitter.com/9wUty5tPuR
USF managed to tie things up just before the half, as Hedda Ornberg netted a goal in the 45th minute. The Knights immediately answered, however, when Liz Worden passed a ball ahead to Edidiong Etim and Etim drilled one home from the top of the box with seven seconds remaining in the half to give the Black and Gold a 2-1 advantage.
“Edi was pretty much the MVP for me tonight. The fact that she was able to put that ball away with just seconds remaining in the half and do it so quickly after they scored was huge. To have the confidence to look to goal and put it on frame was a big-time moment for the team,” Roberts Sahaydak added.
45' | EDI PUTS US AHEAD JUST BEFORE HALF 🤯
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 22, 2025
UCF 2, USF 1 pic.twitter.com/aDyGQCalyE
Early in the second half, Ainsley Moy helped UCF extend its lead to 3-1 in the 48th minute. Kalena Bellini found Worden on a throw-in and Worden one-timed a pass to Moy and the sophomore transfer rocketed a shot into the back of the net. The goal marked Moy’s first as a Knight and the second of her career.
48' | Moy with an absolute dart 🎯
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 22, 2025
UCF 3, USF 1 pic.twitter.com/pWgAPbWt04
With the Black and Gold holding to the 3-1 advantage, senior Rajanah Reed drove down the center of the field and fired a shot in the box that was blocked but it deflected right back to her and she drilled the second attempt home to cap the scoring in the 72nd minute.
72' | Reed extends the lead to 4-1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/y1CakWxsFT
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 22, 2025
As a team, UCF outshot USF 12 to eight on the evening as well as six to five with shots on frame. Holloran, Moy and Reed led the way with two shots apiece, while Worden recorded a pair of assists to match a career high.
Genesis Perez Watson recorded a season-high four saves on her way to moving to 3-0-0 in goal on the year.
The 3-0-0 start to the season matches UCF’s best start since 2003. All three wins this season have come over opponents from the American Conference.
Thursday’s contest featured a two-hour and 28-minute lightning delay prior to the match.
The Knights will close their current three-match homestand by hosting LSU of the SEC on Sunday at 7 p.m. The match will air live on ESPN+. Following Sunday’s contest, the Black and Gold will hit the road to face the Florida Gators on Thursday, Aug. 28 in Gainesville.