Aug. 30, 2009

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UCFAthletics.com) - A second half surge by the UCF women's soccer team helped erase a 1-0 halftime deficit as it upset No. 10 Duke, 3-2, Sunday at the Carolina Nike Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. Senior Courtney Whidden (Palm Harbor, Fla.) netted the first two goals for the Knights (2-1-0) while sophomore Stacie Hubbard (Jacksonville, Fla.) tallied the game-winner in the 87th minute vs. the Blue Devils (1-2-0).

"We came out very sluggish in the first half and we were lucky to only to be down 1-0, but we changed our formation and the ladies stepped up," said head coach Amanda Cromwell. "That was a good weekend for us to go 1-1 against two outstanding ACC schools (No. 1 UNC and No. 10 Duke) who are both in the top 10 in one of the polls."

It was Hubbard's first-career goal and it came right after Duke tied it up at 2-2 with 5:06 remaining in regulation. On a corner kick, senior Becca Thomas ripped a perfect ball to Hubbard who headed it off the crossbar and in for the game-winner with just 3:24 showing on the clock.

"In the UNC game, we had moments that we were playing great," said associate head coach Colby Hale. "But the difference today was depth. Those who played well on Friday didn't have fresh legs today, and those who didn't get a lot of action against the Tar Heels were strong against Duke. We had a lot of energy after halftime today and it says a lot about this team to score the winning goal in the 87th minute."

It was UCF's first win over a top-10 team since defeating No. 9 Rice in 2006.

Whidden needed just 2:38 of the opening moments of play in the second half to even it at 1-1, and her two goals marked the sixth time in four seasons with the Knights she scored twice in a match. She finished with four shots for the Black and Gold, which after being outshot 11-2 in the opening frame came back to outshoot the Blue Devils 10-8 in the second.

In net, sophomore Aline Reis stopped two shots in the first half, while senior Lynzee Lee entered for the final 45 minutes to make six saves and collect her first goalkeeping victory since coming to UCF in 2008.

Similar to Friday's match against No. 1 North Carolina, the Knights battled the Blue Devils to a 0-0 draw through the first 20 minutes of play Sunday. And once again Whidden attempted to come off the bench to provide a spark for the UCF offense by placing a shot on goal in the 23rd minute. However with the match still scoreless in the 30th minute, Duke's Cody Newman gave her team the lead with her first goal of the season.

That was when the momentum completely shifted to the Knights. Receiving a pass in the box from freshman Nicolette Radovcic, Whidden buried a shot into the upper corner in the 48th minute. She followed that up in the 76th minute when senior Yvonne George fired a shot off keeper Tara Campbell and Whidden was right there for the rebound goal.

Now holding the lead for the first time on the day, UCF witnessed Duke answer in the 85th minute on an unassisted goal by Lynnea Pappas. With overtime looming, Hubbard ensured the Knights would walk away with the win with her game-winner 1:42 later.

UCF will be returning to the Sunshine State for its next four matches. The Black and Gold travels to Tampa for the USF Tournament where it squares off against LSU Sept. 4 and Florida International Sept. 6. It then hosts No. 5 Florida State Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. and USF Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.

For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.

Postgame Notes
UCF (2-1-0) - 3
No. 10 Duke (1-2-0) - 2
Goals: DUKE Cody Newman (30th), UCF Courtney Whidden (48th), UCF Courtney Whidden (76th), DUKE Lynnea Pappas (85th), UCF Stacie Hubbard (87th)
-It was the second time in three days UCF played a top-10 program as it took on No. 1 North Carolina (lost 4-0) Aug. 28.
-Duke outshot its previous two opponents 58-9 before facing UCF. On Sunday, the Blue Devils did take more attempts than the Knights, but only held a 19-12 margin as the Black and Gold amassed more shots than Duke's first two opponents combined.
-Sunday's win marked UCF's second triumph over Duke in school history. The Knights also defeated the Blue Devils in the Duke Classic in 1991.
-Nicolette Radovcic, Yvonne George and Becca Thomas all picked up assists.
-Fouls were an even 10-10, while Duke led in corners, 7-5.