No. 21 UCF Halts ECU’s Shutout Streak, 7-0

Pirates Drop Second C-USA Game Of The Season

<P><B>ORLANDO, Fla. – </B>No. 21 UCF scored four goals in the first 11 minutes of play and cruised to a 7-0 victory over East Carolina Friday night in Conference USA Women’s Soccer action at the UCF Soccer Complex. With the win, the Knights improves to 12-4-1 overall and 6-3-0 in league play, while the Pirates suffer their first loss in five matches falling to 8-6-3 overall and 4-2-3 in C-USA.

<P>Six minutes into the contest, UCF’s Tishia Jewell scored the first of her two goals on a rebound when a Pirate defender tried to clear a loose ball in the box. Less than four minutes later, Andrea Rodrigues placed a shot to the near left post off a quick touch from Jennifer Martin, who received a cross from Ashley Nicol to start the run and put the Knights up 2-0.

<P>Martin netted her fifth goal of the season off a free kick at the 10:08 mark increasing UCF’s lead to three, 3-0. Both Jewell and Nicol were credited with assists on the scoring strike. Thirty-four seconds later, Sophie Howard scored her third goal of the season staking the Knights to a commanding 4-0 lead.

<P>“UCF came out on all cylinders and before we could make an adjustment it was all but over,” said ECU Head Coach Rob Donnenwirth. “I thought we were prepared but we didn’t have it tonight. We need to regroup for Sunday against Southern Miss.”

<P>The Knights registered three more goals in the second half capping the scoring at 7-0 and handing the Pirates their second loss in league play.

<P>Jewell led all players with six points netting a pair of goals and two assists, while classmate Nicolette Radovcic tied Jewell with three shots on goal. In all, six different Knights scored on the evening to keep them atop the C-USA leader board.

<P>Lianne Maldonado picked up her 11th win in goal and helped UCF to its 10th clean sheet of the season. Maldonado recorded a pair of saves in 45 minutes of action before being subbed out for Connie Organ, who closed out the game in goal.

<P>ECU keeper Christiane Cordero suffered the loss allowing four goals in 65 minutes of work with four saves. Redshirt freshman Ally Glover made her Pirate debut in net surrendering three goals in 25 minutes. Jewell’s first goal of the match snapped Cordero’s streak of not allowing goal in 541 minutes.

<P>UCF dominated the match from the start to finish recording 13 of its 21 shots in the first period. ECU mustered just three shots, with seniors Chrissy Gratz and Rachel Wechsler posting strikes on goal.

<P>The Pirates will return to the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 21 when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to take on Southern Miss. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET).