University of Houston
UCF
Soccer Battles No. 12 UCF for 90 Minutes
10/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 18, 2009
HOUSTON - The University of Houston soccer team battled No. 12 UCF up until the very end in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Knights in the last home game of the season on Sunday afternoon at the Carl Lewis Complex.
Houston (4-9-2, 2-4-2) nearly matched Conference USA leader UCF (12-3-1, 7-1-0) stat for stat. The Cougars recorded 12 shots while the Knights notched 13, and both teams tallied seven on goal. Sophomore net minder Lauren Frazier made five saves while UCF keeper Aline Reis recorded six saves.
The first half was a back and further battle. The Knights fired off seven shots and four on goal but Houston denied them to capitalize on their efforts. Freshman forward Katelyn Rhodes tallied two shots on goal. As the clock wound down, neither team was able to draw blood.
After play resumed, Reis denied Houston from scoring three times, and it appeared that the game could end in a knot. Unfortunately for the Cougars, UCF was given a penalty kick in the 74th minute of the game. Senior Midfielder Becca Thomas, facing off against Frazier, shot the ball just out of the keeper's reach.
Ten minutes later, the Cougars answered back at the 84:48 mark when sophomore forward Jessica Zavalza crossed to freshman midfielder Morgan Vela who shot the ball high into the net. Vela notched her first career goal while Zavalza picked up her third assist of the season.
In a valiant effort, Houston fought hard to fire off another goal to seal the win but their efforts were cut short when another penalty kick was given to UCF. Thomas took the kick again for the Knights and sent the ball to the net, recording her fifth goal of the season.
For the remaining five minutes, Houston battled to tie up the game but was unable to do so.
The loss continued the Knights' undefeated streak over UH with the all-time series standing at 0-5-0.
The Cougars play the remainder of the season on the road. Houston travels to El Paso, Texas to face UTEP on Oct. 23 before visiting Colorado Springs in a tilt against Colorado College on Oct. 25. Houston returns to the Bayou City to square off against cross-town rival Rice on Oct. 30.
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