PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Thursday night in the American Athletic Conference saw a three-way tie for first place develop as UCF went on the road and blanked No. 15/18 Memphis, 2-0, to snap the Tigers’ 10-game win streak. RV/24 USF also earned a road victory with a 2-1 decision at Tulsa. The Knights, Tigers and Bulls now all boast 4-1 conference records.
Thursday, October 11
UCF 2, No. 15/18 Memphis 0
A goal in each half led the UCF to a 2-0 victory over No. 15/18 Memphis at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Thursday evening.
The Knights took the lead over Memphis in the 21st minute, as Stefanie Sanders collected the ball in the box and beat the keeper. UCF doubled its lead in the 64th minute when Carrie Lawrence took a shot from outside the 18-yard box for her first goal of the season.
Memphis held a 15-14 edge in shots, but Vera Varis was forced to make just a pair of saves. The Knights posted their third shutout of the season, and their first of league play.
The Knights continue their road stretch at Tulsa on Sunday at 2 p.m. Memphis and No. 24 USF square off in The American’s first nationally-ranked battle, also Sunday at 2 p.m.
RV/24 USF 2, Tulsa 1
RV/No. 24 USF defeated Tulsa, 2-1, Thursday with a pair of goals from defenders Kelli Burney and Brianna Blethen.
The Bulls took an early lead when redshirt junior Burney scored her second header off a corner this season. Midfielder Andrea Hauksdottir served it in, earning the assist in the sixth minute.
In the 25th minute, junior Brianna Blethen scored her third goal of the season. Hauksdottir worked a give-and-go with freshman Sydny Nasello who got the ball to Blethen for a shot down the middle from 18 yards out. Blethen's goal was the difference-maker as the Golden Hurricane (6-7-1, 2-3-0) would net a penalty kick in the 75th minute to cut the Bulls' lead in half.
Freshman keeper Sydney Martinez earned her eighth win of the season. She finished the night with two saves. The Bulls defense limited the Golden Hurricane to just seven shots, and just three in the first half.
USF now shows down with No. 15/18 Memphis with first place in the league on the line on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tulsa welcomes UCF, also on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Cincinnati 2, Temple 2 (2OT)
Cincinnati took an early lead before it had to claw back for a late goal and eventually a 2-2 draw Thursday night against a game Temple team.
Vanessa DiNardo and Jill Vetere each scored for the Bearcats in their double overtime The Bearcats played their sixth overtime match of the season. DiNardo scored her first career goal for the Bearcats, hitting home a pass from Vetere and Sophie Gorman in the 24th minute. Vetere added her team-leading sixth goal of the year in the 75' with Camryn Hartman picking up the assist and her first collegiate point.
Temple entered the second half at a 1-0 deficit, but Gabriela Johnson netted the equalizer in the 54th minute. Johnson shook her defender at the top of the box, fired a shot and found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
The Owls struck again in the 63rd minute. Natalie Druehl picked off a Cincinnati pass near midfield, took it up the center and targeted Emma Wilkins to her right. Wilkins controlled the pass and finished to tally her sixth goal of the season and give Temple a 2-1 lead.
Cincinnati goalkeeper Claudia Eustaquio made three saves in the match, including a sliding save with less than one minute remaining in the second overtime, to preserve the draw
The Bearcats wore pink uniform tops tonight in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness
Cincinnati plays its home finale Sunday at 1 p.m., against UConn. Temple ends its regular season road travel on Sunday at ECU.
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