Knights get back on track right before conference play begins next week

Photo by Aryah Britt

UCF women’s soccer found their way back in the win column following a 1-0 victory over the University of North Florida Ospreys on Thursday night at the UCF Soccer Complex.

The Knights (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) were eager to bounce back following a crushing 7-0 loss to Brown that previous Sunday.

After allowing seven goals in the matchup against Brown, the Knights looked to make a defensive statement by holding the Ospreys (2-2-3, 0-0 ASUN) to zero shots in the first half.

Offensively, the Knights sent eleven shots the Ospreys’ way, including five on target.

While the opportunities presented themselves, three crucial saves from UNF’s graduate goalkeeper Sofia Miliancano kept the Ospreys still fighting.

The Knights got their breakthrough in the 34th minute when redshirt senior forward Payton Patrick found the back of the net, assisted by junior midfielder Ainsley Moy and sophomore forward/defender Kalena Bellini.

Patrick credited her teammates for her game-winning goal and the advantage of playing off each other’s positioning.

“I saw it coming back, and I knew I was going to circle my runaround for anything that bounced down,” Patrick said. “Nobody scores goals without our teammates putting us in good spots, so I’m really grateful that [Ainsley] was there.”

Coming out in the second half, the Ospreys carried a different sense of aggression, down only one goal as they tallied seven shots in the half.

Head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak told reporters postgame that UNF’s game plan was figured out at halftime.

“Their plan was probably to stifle us in the first half, and then in the second half, it’s only one to zero, so now they’re going to go take risks,” Sahaydak said. “We told them at halftime that that’s what was going to happen, and it is exactly what happened.”

UCF looked to extend its lead and put the game to bed with tries from redshirt sophomore midfielder Gabi Berchon and senior forward Naomi Clark whose shots both hit the post.

Even Patrick almost got her second goal of the night, but a save by Miliancano denied the chance in the 75th minute.

The Knights ended the match with 71% of possession, outshooting the Ospreys 24-to-7 in shots and 8-to-2 in shots on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Kaina Cesar made two saves to keep the shutout alive; Maliancano tallied six.

Patrick talked about the importance of ending non-conference play on a positive note, especially after their defeat to Brown.

“I think on a mentality standpoint, we know that wasn’t us,” Patrick said. “So, to come out and prove to ourselves and to everybody that was not our day and just to head in with a strong, positive note going into Texas Tech.”

The Knights end their non-conference slate with a 5-1 record and look forward to carrying that momentum with them when they open conference play against No. 22-ranked Texas Tech on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.