Women’s Soccer Falls to Memphis in C-USA Championship Finals, 1-0
Knights will learn where they will travel to in the NCAA Tournament Monday at 4:30 p.m.

11/7/10

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) – No. 23 UCF had the best scoring chances Sunday, but it was Memphis which scored the game’s only goal with 55 seconds remaining in regulation to claim the Conference USA Women’s Soccer Championship trophy, 1-0, at the UCF Soccer Complex. The C-USA regular-season champions, the top-seeded Knights dropped to 14-4-3 on the year, while the No. 2 seed Tigers (15-3-3) claimed their fourth-straight C-USA tournament crown.

With an RPI of No. 18 entering the week, UCF will now look ahead to the NCAA Tournament which begins next weekend. The 64-team field will be announced on ESPNU Monday at 4:30 p.m. The Knights have reached the Second Round each of the last three seasons.

“You know this game doesn’t affect us in the RPI. We could have host if we won this game. But going forward, having the loss can turn into a positive because you have that feeling in your gut that you’re really upset,” said head coach Amanda Cromwell. “I think we are on the bubble for a national seed. It depends what happens around us. We are going to be a high-seeded team and we could go anywhere. Just like last year we were seeded with Wisconsin, so you never know.”

Memphis may have outshot UCF in the first half with keeper Aline Reis making three saves for the Black and Gold, but it was the Knights which had the better opportunities. In the opening minute, Kim Newsome took it deep towards the Tiger net and crossed over to Tishia Jewell but her diving attempt was tipped wide. Then moments later, Jewell ripped a shot from 16 yards that was saved by keeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters.

And in the closing minutes of the opening half, the Knights put it back into the 18 where Bianca Joswiak beat her opponent to the net and had a 1-on-1 with Kuhar-Pitters, however Joswiak’s shot sailed just over the crossbar.

Following the halftime break, Jewell fired off another shot, this time from 21 yards out only to watch as Kuhar-Pitters tipped it over the crossbar. As the clocked ticked down, Stacie Hubbard put a header towards the net which went just wide with six minutes remaining and Katie Jackson’s attempt from 23 yards away with five minutes to go traveled barely over the crossbar.

Memphis’ best chance before the 90th minute came 12 minutes into the half but Vendula Strnadova’s shot hit the crossbar. With overtime looming, the Tigers earned a free kick just outside the 18 on the left side, and Lizzy Simonin sent it in. Reis appeared to grab but was hit inside the box and a scrum ensued, where Melissa Smith secured the loose ball and cranked a shot into the far left-corner for the last-minute victory.

After the match, UCF placed three players on the C-USA All-Tournament Team: Joswiak, Newsome and Lauren Halbert.

C-USA Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Lauri Byrne – Houston
Cami Koski – Houston
Kaitlyn Eidson – SMU
Kristin Medeiros – SMU
Bianca Joswiak – UCF
Kim Newsome – UCF
Lauren Halbert – UCF
Lizzy Simonin – Memphis
Lizzy Hildebrandt – Memphis
Elise Kuhar-Pitters – Memphis – Defensive MVP
Vendula Strnadova – Memphis – Offensive MVP