Knights remain undefeated following Thursday’s road win
By Official Florida FC
UCF 2, Florida 0
No. 19 Central Florida (2-0) has enough attacking talent to create opportunities on its own. But, the Knights were not going to turn down the gift the University of Florida presented on a platter during Thursday’s encounter in Gainesville.
The Gators (0-2-1) had a miscommunication at the back and it allowed Trescott Shamlou to stick her foot in and poke the ball home in the 14th minute. Later, the Gators conceded a penalty kick that Darya Rajaee slotted home in the 41st minute.
Florida has conceded first in all three matches this season. The Gators found a late equalizer in Sunday’s draw against Texas. However, the visitors held on in the second half to produce their third straight win over the Gators.
“When we started the second half, I thought we got back into the game and started to create some chances,” UF head coach Tony Amato said afterward. “You’ve got to finish one of those and the game changes. We were putting them under enough pressure and creating chances. The final ball or the final shot, it wasn’t there for us. We’re going to have to work on that.”
The Gators will get a chance to do exactly that on Sunday afternoon against a University of Miami bunch that is 1-1 following Thursday’s 2-0 home loss to Lipscomb.
North Florida 1, Florida International 0 (OT)
North Florida (2-1) was on the victorious end of free soccer on Thursday night in Miami. Thais Reiss scored her second goal of the season in the 91st minute to help the Ospreys improve to 2-1 on the season.
Emma Voight’s hard pressing in the attacking third caused FIU (1-2) to turn the ball over. Voight dribbled toward the penalty area, laid it off to Carmel Oliveira, whose first-time cross was volleyed home for the winner.
“(It’s) always nice to win on the road and rebound from a loss,” UNF head coach Eric Faulconer told the university’s website afterward. “That is what we did tonight. We learned a lot about our team and the adjustments we need to make going forward. We have a good team and as the game wore on, we started to take over the match. We will enjoy the win and get ready for Mercer at home on Sunday.”
Louisiana State 2, No. 15 USF 1
The Tigers performed a smash and grab on Thursday night in Tampa. Maddie Moreau’s first goal of the season with less than 30 seconds in regulation helped Louisiana State (3-0-0) win battle of unbeatens.
USF All-American Sydny Nasello has scored or assisted a goal in every match this season for the Bulls. Nasello put her 66th minute penalty kick into the top corner to tie the game. But, it wasn’t enough for the Bulls (2-1).
No. 1 Florida State 4, South Alabama 0
Jenna Nighswonger, Beata Olsson, Yujie Zhao and Gianna Mitchell all scored goals to help the top-ranked Seminoles throttle visiting South Alabama on Thursday night at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The Seminoles kept 76% of possession and did not allow a shot on goal to improve to 3-0-0.
