ORLANDO, Fla. – The #7 Penn State women's soccer team fell 2-1 to the #18 Central Florida Knights on Sunday night. Central Florida netted a goal in the 62nd minute to secure the win.
How it Happened
Penn State was the aggressor in the early portion of the match, putting two quick shots on net from Jilly Shimkin and Ally Schlegel. Both shots were saved by the Knights goalkeeper and the match remained tied a 0-0.
The Nittany Lions continued to press the Knights back line, tallying a total of five shots in the first 20 minutes of action as well as earning five corners but could not find the back of the net.
UCF managed to break through in the 26th minute as Kristen Scott placed a shot beyond the outstretched arms of Katherine Asman to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
The deficit did not last for long as senior captain Sam Coffey scored her second goal of the season with an absolute blast from outside the box into the upper ninety of the goal to tie the match at 1-1.
Two minutes later, Rachel Wasserman nearly gave the Nittany Lions the lead as she sent shot just over the crossbar as Penn State looked to take its first lead of the match.
The Nittany Lions and Knights went into the half tied at 1-1.
The game entered a weather delay five minutes into the second half with the match still tied at 1-1. The weather delay lasted two hours and twenty-two minutes.
Out of the delay, Schlegel again sent another shot towards net as the Nittany Lions looked to grab the lead.
In the 61st minute, Payton Linnehan nearly gave Penn State the lead as she got behind the Knights back line and sent a strong shot towards goal. The UCF keeper came off her line to make a sliding save a deny Linnehan of her sixth goal of the season.
The Knights transitioned back to the offensive end and Scott netted her second goal of the game to give UCF a 2-1 lead.
Penn State looked for the equalizer over the game's final 29 minutes. UCF sank back as they attempted to hold their one-goal advantage.
Coffey sent a blast on goal in the 80th minute but a tremendous leaping save by the Knights goalkeeper denied the senior captain of the tying goal. Coffey would send another shot on goal in the 89th minute but another leaping save by the UCF keeper secured the win.
Penn State outshot UCF 15-11 and earned 11 corners compared to 0 for UCF.
Penn State is back in action on Thursday, September 9 at #3 Virginia.
