2008 Woodie Awards
First-half barrage lifts Knights to their best offensive performance since 2004
William Perry
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: Sports
An offensive explosion against Houston on Sunday at home allowed the UCF Women's Soccer team to pick up a much-needed conference win.
Prior to game against the Cougars, UCF had recorded more than two goals only one other time this season. The Knights scored four goals against Marshall on Oct.3.
Sunday, they notched six goals in a 6-0 rout of the Cougars to move their record to 9-4-3 overall and 4-2-2 in C-USA.
Senior Jessie Gardner made her first start in goal for the Knights and helped her team record its largest lopsided win since a 9-0 thrashing over Lipscomb in 2004. She was forced to make only one first half save as she watched her team continuously pepper Cougars goalie Shelby Scott with shots.
Gardner totaled four saves in 85 minutes before being relieved by Lynzee Lee, who added a save to complete the shutout for the Knights.
"It felt great [to get the shutout]," Gardner said in a press release. "The coaches told me last week that I would get to play on Sunday. So I got mentally ready, and I knew this team wouldn't have a problem because we have great defenders.
"Offensively we were amazing today. All of those goals were perfect. their goalkeeper didn't have much of a chance because our forwards were too good."
The Knights began the scoring on a corner kick in the 7th minute on a goal from Courtney Whidden.
Becca Thomas sent in a cross that made its way to Danielle dos Santos, but her back was to the net. Making a fancy maneuver, she pulled off a bicycle kick, but a Houston defender was there to make the save. The rebound then ricocheted to Whidden, who slammed it into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the year.
Thomas also set up the Knights' second goal of the game that came in the 26th minute. She dished a pass over the heads of a couple of Cougar defenders to a streaking Yvonne George. All alone with only the keeper to beat, George made a quick move to her left and nailed it past Scott for a 2-0 lead.
Prior to game against the Cougars, UCF had recorded more than two goals only one other time this season. The Knights scored four goals against Marshall on Oct.3.
Sunday, they notched six goals in a 6-0 rout of the Cougars to move their record to 9-4-3 overall and 4-2-2 in C-USA.
Senior Jessie Gardner made her first start in goal for the Knights and helped her team record its largest lopsided win since a 9-0 thrashing over Lipscomb in 2004. She was forced to make only one first half save as she watched her team continuously pepper Cougars goalie Shelby Scott with shots.
Gardner totaled four saves in 85 minutes before being relieved by Lynzee Lee, who added a save to complete the shutout for the Knights.
"It felt great [to get the shutout]," Gardner said in a press release. "The coaches told me last week that I would get to play on Sunday. So I got mentally ready, and I knew this team wouldn't have a problem because we have great defenders.
"Offensively we were amazing today. All of those goals were perfect. their goalkeeper didn't have much of a chance because our forwards were too good."
The Knights began the scoring on a corner kick in the 7th minute on a goal from Courtney Whidden.
Becca Thomas sent in a cross that made its way to Danielle dos Santos, but her back was to the net. Making a fancy maneuver, she pulled off a bicycle kick, but a Houston defender was there to make the save. The rebound then ricocheted to Whidden, who slammed it into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the year.
Thomas also set up the Knights' second goal of the game that came in the 26th minute. She dished a pass over the heads of a couple of Cougar defenders to a streaking Yvonne George. All alone with only the keeper to beat, George made a quick move to her left and nailed it past Scott for a 2-0 lead.
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