UCF Earns 1st Win of the Season with Shutout of Stetson

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – A season-opening loss didn’t impede on the University of Central Florida’s momentum heading into the Knights’ home-opener. After a 2-0 loss to the No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks on Aug. 18, UCF (1-1-0) tabbed a 2-0 win of its own over Stetson University (1-1-0) at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex early Sunday afternoon. The Knights extend their overall record to 21-0 over the Hatters.

“It was very important for us to be able to bounce back,” Knights head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said after the match. “You know, we weren’t planning on the situation at South Carolina, but, you know, that’s what the beginning of a season is for is to kinda have some setbacks and situations where you have to learn and grow from. So I really wanted us to bounce back, and I thought we did play well today.

“…I thought the girls knew that it’s a work day, and they have to come and get the job done, and it was business, and I liked their mentality from the beginning. So to get two was great.”

UCF opened the scoring in the 17th minute off a strike by Morgan Ferrara. With two defenders draped around Ferrara, midfielder Kayla Adamek slid a through ball to the top-right part of Stetson’s box. After one touch, Ferrara unloaded a shot to the far post, evading Stetson goalkeeper Emily Plotz’s diving effort. Plotz totaled four saves.

“Coming off a really tough loss in South Carolina, we knew we were gonna have to have the whole team today,” said Ferrara, who had seven goals last season, after the match. “We were gonna have to have a group effort. It’s hot out here. We’re lethargic from flying, and Maura Aman, Kat Sousa—they put in 90 minutes—Saga Fredriksson, 90 minutes. It was a group effort, and I got a lucky-enough ball. Kayla Adamek, honored to play by her always. She played a great blindside ball, and I just had to finish it, so my job was easy.”

The Knights doubled their lead in the 43rd minute off the foot of redshirt sophomore Jessica Taylor. After a short corner kick from the right, UCF patiently maintained possession inside Stetson’s 18-yard box. The ball would land to Aman, and the junior from Annandale, Virginia, then sent the ball into Stetson’s six-yard box where Taylor was waiting with two defenders around her. One touch off her knee later, Taylor scored her first of the season.

Taylor missed most of last season because of an injury. The Tampa native logged just 67 minutes in three games with two shots (one on goal) last season.

“I think, like, on our corners, we need to finish on them, and I think that’s what we struggle with,” Taylor said after the match. “And it’s, like, that can be a game-changing moment. So, when we do get the opportunity, we have to finish, and I think that’s key to our success.

“I mean, it’s really good [to be back]. I was out for a while, so it took some time to get back, but I’m good, and, you know, I’m just ready to work hard and have a good season.”

The Knights were not only aggressive in their attack, unloading 14 shots (six on goal) on Plotz’s net, but they were also stalwart on defense. UCF limited Stetson to just one shot (one on goal), and it didn’t occur until the 74th minute.

For Roberts Sahaydak, the limited work early in the season is not a concern for her interchanging goalies, Vera Varis and Chloe N’Gazi.

“Well, you know, they got a lot of work in…against South Carolina,” the fifth-year boss said. “Being a man down, I mean, we were really excited to be even today. So, we’re like, ‘That’s a benefit, guys. Look, we got 10 field players today. How awesome is that?’ But as far as goalkeeping goes, they had a good share of work on Friday, and they didn’t get it today, but they’re gonna have their fair share, so we’re still early in the season.

“So that’s why back us up like this against good teams so that we can really see where we stand and so that goalkeepers can have that pressure and our back four can have that pressure so we can really see where our weaknesses are and try and fix ‘em early on.”

N’Gazi recorded the Knights’ lone save of the match, as she dropped to the ground to stop a hard grounder from entering the back of the net.

Woman of the Match: Morgan Ferrara

In her 45 minutes of play, Ferrara had a game-high two shots on goal. Last season, Ferrara scored seven times, second only to now-graduated forward Carol Rodrigues, who scored 12.

What’s next?

The Knights host the No. 6 UNC Tar Heels on Friday at 7 p.m.

Highlights

#MoGoals!

We take a 1-0 lead over Stetson! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/AicpMXtK2l

— UCF Women’s Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 20, 2017

We take a 2-0 lead over Stetson into the locker room, thanks to this great play between Maura and Jessica! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/eoNryMHwte

— UCF Women’s Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 20, 2017

NDR Notes

• Ferrara was second in the team in scoring last year with seven goals. She scored the Knights’ first goal of the regular season in the win over Stetson.
• Taylor played a total of 266 minutes in the previous two seasons, scoring one goal on four shots (one on goal) in her freshman year. She scored her first of 2017 against Stetson.
• So far this season, Varis and N’Gazi have alternated at goalkeeper. Varis starts, but N’Gazi has come in and played the second half in both regular-season games this year.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

UCF Knights starting XI (4-3-3): Vera Varis (GK); Emily Tipton, Maura Aman, Kathellen Sousa, Saga Fredriksson; Madison Murnin, Zandy Soree, Carrie Lawrence; Hannah DeBose, Morgan Ferrara, Kayla Adaemk

Stetson Hatters starting XI (n/a): n/a

For more on the Knights, as they look to carry momentum into their next home match against ranked UNC, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.