(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Sept. 17, 2017 at UCF Soccer and Track Complex
Availability: HC Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, F Kayla Adamek, F Dina Orschmann
UCF Plays 1st Game in 2 Weeks
- The University of Central Florida defeated Eastern Florida State College 12-0 in an impromptu, midseason friendly.
- UCF’s win over the Titans was the first game UCF had played a game in two weeks.
- The Knights last played on Sept. 3, beating the Arizona State Sun Devils 2-1.
HC TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK: “You know, it’s hard to tell [if there’s any rust with the team]. You know, that’s why I really wanted to get, at least, scrimmage in today just to kinda get those competitive juices flowing again. I mean, we’ve had a few days to train leading up to this, so that was good. But we just needed to play someone else beside ourselves. And I thought, today—I think I didn’t see rust, per se. You know, I thought that we stuck to our game plan, and we continued to play our style. I think sometimes if you play an opponent, and you go up by a few goals, you start losing sight of what we’re trying to accomplish, and we start doing things that we’re not—we don’t teach them, and people just start doing things they’re not supposed to be doing, and we kind of stuck to our style and had, you know, collection of goal-scorers and combination plays. So, that, overall, was successful for us just to get that game in.”
F KAYLA ADAMEK: “I wouldn’t say rust. I’d say we’re pretty antsy to get a game in, and I think it helped us to prepare for [the Cincinnati Bearcats]. But, I mean, we were able to train, but it was nice to just get a competitive game in.”
F DINA ORSCHMANN: “No, I think that was a very good opportunity for us, and everyone could play, so we have tried something new, and it was very good opportunity to play today against [EFSC].”
Kayla Adamek, Dina Orschmann, Christine Creighton Lead Knights in Scoring in Win Over EFSC
- In the win over the Titans, Adamek recorded the lone hat-trick of the game, recording seven shots (six on goal) and an assist along the way.
- Orschmann and midfielder Christine Creighton added braces, as Orschmann took six shots (four on goal), and Creighton had five shots (four on goal).
HC TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK: “Yeah, you know, we have a lot of offensive leaders, which I think that’s, I think, a positive about our team this year. But, yeah, I think we can count on, you know, any of those players on any given day. But we really are—it’s like a team effort all the time, so it’s never just one person taking on the other—the opponent and doing it themselves. Lot of times, our goals are coming off a great cross or a nice combination play. You know, other players are involved whenever someone else scores. So, again, I think that’s a strength of our team.”
F KAYLA ADAMEK: “I don’t think it was relaly me that did all the work. I was just up there, and, I mean, we were able to create a good build-up, and we were creative in the final third, so I just had to tap them in.”
F DINA ORSCHMANN: “I mean, I think it’s good that we have a lot of player who can shoot goals in the offensive. And I think that’s one part of our game. We have a lot of different players in front who can play very quick balls in the offense and…passes, and that’s how we play. We try to create, every time, new chances, and it doesn’t matte who shot the goals, but I’m happy that I shot [two] goals today.”
“Yeah, sure [we are the offensive leaders], but I think the team is so close to each other, and everyone has the position as a leader, and we push us against each other, you know what I mean? And that feels very nice, but I feel like a leader. I try to push them higher and higher and create new chances…and I think we have a lot of leaders in the offensive, also in the defensive, and it’s a good combination.”
Knights Will Open Conference Play with Cincinnati, ECU
- The Knights next embark on a two-game road trip and begin American Athletic Conference Play.
- UCF will first travel to play Cincinnati on Sept. 21 and then travel to face the ECU Pirates on Sept. 24.
- With three cancelled games this season so far, the Knights will only play 14 regular-season games.
HC TIFANNY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK: “Yeah, we’re excited. I mean, just excited to get a real match in. And I would have loved to have a real match before, you know, conference play this weekend, but it is what it is, and I think we’ve done everything, you know, that we can to prepare, and, like I said, the team’s very excited just to kinda get back on track and start this conference.”
F KAYLA ADAMEK: “I think we’re pretty refreshed, and we’re ready to get some good games in.”
“Yeah, I think we had a good start to our season, and we played some really good teams, so I think we’re confident, and we’re ready to start conference play.”
F DINA ORSCHMANN: “I think it was hard to have not a game the last two weeks, and we has a little bit lower-intensity training, but now we are up—with this game, we are up. Yeah, we connect our strength, again, and focus on the next game, and I think we [are] on a good way to play against on our higher level.”
No. 15 UCF Is Only AAC Team in Top 25
- The Knights are No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
- UCF is 4-1-0.
HC TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK: “Yeah, of course, I do think that [you have a target on your back] any time if you get ranked, or you’re doing well. You know, we started the season more as underdogs ’cause when those preseason polls came out, we were, I think, in the middle somewhere. And now that we’ve had some good results, you know, I don’t think we’re necessarily the underdog, and, you know, we’re blessed to be in either position. You know, there’s a positive in either position, and that’s—you know, we’ll take that target, and we’ll just have to live with it and get through it.”
F KAYLA ADAMEK: “I mean, we feel pretty good about it. I mean, we’re not really surprised because this team has something special. Like, we got talent, and we got that competitiveness, but, most of all, we’re like a team, and we all love each other and wanna play for each other, and I think that’s what has made this season so special so far.”
“Absolutely [we have a target on our back]. I mean, Tiff always says, like, it’s always easier when you’re the underdog, but we’re up for the challenge, and I think this team can handle it.”
F DINA ORSCHMANN: “I mean, when I come here to the university, we was in a different place. We was very low, and now we get higher and higher, and that’s our goal, our aim that we go higher, more higher, and that’s what we want.”
“Yeah, we have a lot of pressure, but we want that because we know that can go better, and that’s our aim.”
Morgan Ferrara Resting Before Conference Play
- Forward Morgan Ferrara, who has so far recorded two goals this season, did not make an appearance against the Titans.
- Ferrara will be ready to train all week ahead of the AAC opener.
HC TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK: “Yeah, she’s fine. She just got an injection, so she’s just—after the injection, you have to take a couple days off, so we decided to get the injection early so that she can train all week leading up to Cincinnati.”
For more on the Knights, as they head into conference play against Cincinnati, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan,
