University of Houston
6-4-1, 3-4-0
UCF
2-4-1, 2-4-1
Houston Tops UCF for First Time in Program History
4/11/2021 9:10:00 PM | Soccer
Cougars also secure winning season for first time in 11 years
ORLANDO – The 2021 regular season closed with a historic victory as the Houston soccer team secured a winning season by defeating UCF 3-1 for the first time in program history on Sunday night in Orlando.Â
The victory is the first ever for Houston (6-4-1, 3-4-0 AAC) over UCF (2-4-1, 2-4-1 AAC) after 15 previous meetings. The Cougars owned one draw, coming in 2011, and 14 losses before this victory. UCF, a 21-time NCAA Tournament participant, is regularly a contender for the conference crown. Â
With the victory, the program also achieves a winning season for the first time since 2010 and only the fifth time in the 21st century. The six overall victories and three Cougar conference victories also tie the team's 2019 totals despite a shortened season. Â
Houston got off to a blazing start with two goals in the first eight minutes of the contest. Zionah Browne scored the first of the contest, and her fourth of the season, in the 5th minute. Only a few minutes later Maddie Dichiara scored her first as a Cougar off a corner kick to put Houston up early. Â
After UCF had broken the shutout, the Cougars added a second goal just 39 seconds later to maintain the two-goal advantage.Â
The Cougars finished with an advantage in corner kicks, but the Knights had a couple more shots.
Making her third start of the season, freshman Mikaela Gracia brought her season save total up to eight with three more saves. In her 225 minutes this season, Gracia has surrendered only one goal, an average of 0.4 goals allowed per game. Â
With today's result, the team finishes with a goal differential of +16 after having a –20 in 2019. The 2019 team scored only 23 goals for an average of 1.15 per game while this year's squad scored 24 in nine less contests for an average of 2.18 per game. Â
The team only allowed eight goals this season and held opponents to one or fewer goals in all but one game this season. Â
Originally scheduled for Noon, kickoff was delayed until 8 p.m. CT due to rain across the Orlando area.Â
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Team Stats
Zionah Browne (4)
Assisted By: Amy Nguyen
GOAL by HOU Browne, Zionah Assist by Nguyen, Amy.
04:19
Madison Dichiara (1)
Assisted By: Mia Brascia
GOAL by HOU Dichiara, Madison Assist by Brascia, Mia.
07:12
Kailey Scott (1)
Assisted By: Dayana Martin
GOAL by UCF Scott, Kailey Assist by Martin, Dayana.
48:15
Jazmin Grant (6)
Assisted By: Madison Dichiara
GOAL by HOU Grant, Jazmin Assist by Dichiara, Madison.
48:54
