Box Score
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Senior Janessa Taddei recorded four shots in the Golden Panthers' 4-0 loss to UCF on Friday night. The four shots moves Taddei into sixth place all-time with 142 career shots.
photo by Geoff Anderson |
ORLANDO ? Three first half goals led host UCF to a 4-0 victory past FIU on Friday night in women's soccer action at the UCF Soccer Field.
FIU drops its second straight game of the season and falls to 2-3-3. With the 4-0 shutout win, UCF improves to 3-6-0.
UCF junior forward Roberta Pelarigo put the Golden Knights up early with goals in the ninth and 20th minute for the early lead. Pelarigo finished the contest with a match-high seven shots, including the two goals. She put UCF ahead when she capitalized on a free kick by teammate Jessica Hallgren. Her next goal came following a corner kick and a header pass to extend the UCF lead to 2-0.
Trailing 2-0, the Golden Panthers offense continued to challenge the UCF defenders. For FIU, redshirt freshman Francesca Chong and senior Janet Liguori each had opportunities that were saved by UCF goalkeeper Beth Harless. Liguori finished the match with a team-high six shots, two of which were on goal.
The Golden Knights added to its lead in the opening half when Jennifer Montgomery beat FIU goalkeeper Laura Snell 1-on-1 to stretch the lead to 3-0. Despite trailing by a 3-0 margin after the opening 45 minutes, UCF only outshot FIU by one, 12-11. Harless made five saves in the first half for UCF and Snell for FIU made three.
In the second half, UCF's offensive attack controlled the match, recording 16 shots compared to five for FIU. Snell answered the UCF attack with a strong second half in goal with five more saves, en route to a season-high eight save effort. FIU's Janessa Taddei and Valerie Patrick each fired shots in the closing minutes of the match; however, Harless made saves on the FIU shots. Taddei had four shots in the loss to raise her career total to 142, moving the senior from Tampa into sixth place all-time at FIU. As the match was winding down, the Golden Knights put its final goal on the board when Hallgren scored on a free kick in the 90th minute.
Next, FIU remains on the road with the opening weekend action of Sun Belt Conference play on Friday, September 30, against Arkansas-Little Rock at 5 p.m. The Golden Panthers continue their Sun Belt Conference schedule, taking on Arkansas State on Sunday, October 2, at 2 p.m.
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