UCF Women’s Soccer Uses All-Around Effort to Defeat Marshall, 4-0

Four different players score for the Knights in their Conference USA opener.

10/5/07

ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) – The UCF women’s soccer team had to endure yet another lengthy weather delay when it hosted Marshall Friday in both programs’ Conference USA opener. But it did not seem to affect the Knights at all as they defeated the Thundering Herd, 4-0, to improve to 6-2-2 on the season.



“The defense was really smart in when to step (forward) and when to drop (back),” said head coach Amanda Cromwell. “We really didn’t let their forwards have much of the ball. There was a lot of communication with Kelsey Kravec in the back line organizing everybody.”



UCF controlled most of the match against Marshall (3-7-0, 0-1-0), finishing with a 23-7 advantage in the overall shot department. Senior Jennifer Manis kept the Herd at bay by stopping all four shots that made their way towards the net, enabling her to post her second shutout of the 2007 campaign.



Seven Knights collected at least two shots Friday, highlighted by freshman Kacie Horner, who came off the bench to take four shots. Meanwhile, all four goals were scored by four different players, as seven Knights completed their evening with at least one point.



Although Marshall gained two quick corner-kick chances in the first few minutes, UCF replied with a lot of offensive pressure. It paid off in the 14th minute. After sophomore Sarah de Leon had a shot blocked in the box, sophomore Yvonne George scooped up the rebound and also had her shot knocked away. The ball bounced right back to George again and this time she drilled it into the lower left corner for her fourth tally of the year.



Now holding a 1-0 advantage, a heavy rain storm brought some lightning with it and both teams had to clear the field with 17:43 remaining in the first half. Approximately an hour later, the Knights continued to keep the ball in the Marshall zone and capitalized in the 36th minute. Earning a corner kick on the left side, senior Arielle Orr sent a pass right on target for de Leon, who delivered a header off Marshall goalkeeper Liz Orton and into the right portion of the net. It was de Leon’s first goal of the season and third in her career.



The Knights were not done in the opening half. Junior Danielle dos Santos had possession at the top of the box and delivered a pass over to junior Hanna Wilde, who easily found the right corner with just 21 seconds left. Wilde’s third goal of 2007 provided the Black and Gold with a 3-0 cushion.



To conclude the scoring, freshman Lauren Halbert got into the action in the second half. As sophomore Courtney Whidden dribbled through the defense, she found Halbert open in the box and she connected for her first collegiate goal in the 66th minute. Halbert became the ninth UCF player to score a goal this season.



UCF’s five-game homestand, the longest of the season, comes to a close when East Carolina invades the Orlando campus Sunday at 1 p.m.



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