Knights Play with 10 Women, Lose Season-opener to No. 4 South Carolina

After out-scoring their opponents 8-0 in two preseason matches, the UCF Knights dropped their season-opener to the No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks.

By
Victor Tan
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Match Recap

A fiery preseason in which the University of Central Florida out-scored its two opponents 8-0 was quickly overshadowed when the Knights lost their season-opener in Columbia, South Carolina. UCF (0-1-0) fell 2-0 to the No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0-0) Friday night at Stone Stadium.

UCF faced adversity early, as midfielder Bridget Callahan was issued a straight red card in the 15th minute. South Carolina then went on the attack and unloaded a flurry of four shots on Knights goalkeeper Vera Varis’ net in less than 10 minutes. In the 24th minute, the Gamecocks scored. South Carolina forward Elexa Bahr received the ball down the middle-right flank by forward Savannah McCaskill on a counterattack, took a touch and struck it inside of Varis to the far post.

Despite playing the final 75 minutes of the match down one player, the Knights managed a one-goal difference for most of the night. But in the 79th minute, South Carolina’s Lauren Chang doubled the lead off an assist by Breukelen Woodard.

“I was very proud of our second-half performance,” Knights head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said, per the team. “Even a man down, I thought we had the ball a lot. We played very nervous in the first half, and I think it got the best of us.”

The Knights didn’t manage much offense after Callahan’s ejection. After midfielder Madison Murnin’s shot off a corner in the ninth minute, the Knights managed just four shots the rest of the game. UCF forward Morgan Ferrara took the Knights’ lone shot on goal of the match in the 53rd minute. South Carolina unleashed 16 shots (eight on goal) during the contest.

As for the Knights’ goalkeeping, UCF utilized Varis as the starter and sophomore Chloe N’Gazi in the second half. Varis totaled one save, and N’Gazi had three.

Women of the Match: Elexa Bahr, Lauren Chang

Both Bahr and Chang took two shots (two on goal) and scored goals of their own. Bahr’s two shots came in quick succession, as she took her first shot in the 21st minute before scoring in the 24th. As for Chang, she took her two shots in the second half after entering the game again in the 67th minute. In the 71st minute, Chang took her first on-target shot of the season before scoring in the 79th minute.

What’s next?

The Knights return to Orlando to host Stetson University in UCF’s home-opener on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • Midfielders Murnin and Kathellen Sousa made their UCF debuts in starts against South Carolina.
  • This is the first time this year that UCF has not scored. The Knights previously defeated the Miami Hurricanes 3-0 and the University of North Florida 5-0 in preseason exhibitions matches.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by
24’ University of South Carolina Elexa Bahr Savannah McCaskill
79’ University of South Carolina Lauren Chang Breukelen Woodard

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession %
University of South Carolina 2 2 16 6 n/a
University of Central Florida 0 0 5 1 n/a

South Carolina Gamecocks starting XI (4-2-3-1): Mikayla Krzeczowski (GK); Anna Conklin, Jackie Schaefer, Tatumn Milazzo, Sarah Eskew; Dominique Babbitt, Lindsey Lane; Ryan Gareis, Savannah McCaskill, Elexa Bahr; Meaghan Carrigan

UCF Knights starting XI (4-3-3): Vera Varis (GK); Saga Fredriksson, Bridget Callahan, Maura Aman, Carrie Lawrence; Katriina Kuoksa, Madison Murnin, Kathellen Sousa; Julia Moore, Morgan Ferrara, Kayla Adamek

For more on the Knights, as they look to bounce back from a very early-season loss, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

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