UCF Knights
Overall Rank: #21
#1 American
UCF Team Page
The 2013 season for the UCF women’s soccer program was one of the best in school history under the leadership of head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. The Knights at one point rattled off an 18 match unbeaten streak and charged up the polls. However, the early exit in the NCAA Tournament has left this UCF side coming back looking for more in 2014.
2013 Record: 16-3-4, 8-0-1
2013 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Tatiana Coleman, Senior, F, 10
Assists: Tatiana Coleman, Senior, F, 8
Shots: Jennifer Martin, Senior, M, 68
Saves: Connie Organ, Junior, GK, 12
Other Key Returnees: F Lena Petermann, M/F Alex Piercy, M Kayla Adamek, M Megan Fish, M Sophie Howard, M Kayla Darden, D Caroline Bado, D Carleigh Williams
Key Losses: F/D Kristina Trujic, D Ashley Nicol, D Marissa Diggs, GK Lianne Maldonado
Strengths:
Tatianna Coleman leads a very balanced and experienced attack this season. Coleman scored ten goals and will have the support of the other top four point producers that will be back this season. Forward Lena Petermann is another very skilled attacking player that will be missing in the first part of the season. Petermann will be playing for Germany in the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup. The overall depth of this attack should be able to get some key victories in the non-conference portion of the schedule. The depth of the attack should also allow for UCF to roll through the American Athletic Conference portion of the schedule.
Weaknesses:
There is some work to do along the backline to compensate for the graduation of goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado and defenders Marissa Diggs and Ashley Nicol. This will be a situation that with a tough early schedule forces the Knights into some more shootout types of matches. If the Knights can come together quickly chemistry wise in the back then they will be a huge threat nationally in the postseason.
Final Projection:
The schedule is going to show right away just how good the Knights are in 2014. Miami visits on August 24th, followed by a trip to College Station to take on Texas A&M on August 29th. The ability to get a result in College Station will be a huge tournament resume builder. The home schedule in September will provide another opportunity to build the tournament resume as Oregon State, Long Beach State, and Ole Miss all come to Orlando to take on the Knights. With the overall quality returning offensively look for UCF to make enough noise in the non-conference portion of the season to push for one of the top 16 overall seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 2.22 (23rd in nation, 3rd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.585 (13, 1)
Shutout Percentage: 0.522 (25, 1)
Save Percentage: 0.818 (68, 1)
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