“It was a pretty complete game. I thought our attack was great, and the players that came in really lifted us up like Brianna Schooley who scored her first goal of the season,” said head coach Amanda Cromwell. “Across the board everyone that came in off the bench really helped us. It was a good win.”
The Black and Gold’s 28 shots were a season-high, topping the 24 attempts against East Carolina, and were the most by the Knights since Oct. 19, 2008, vs. Houston (29 shots). Meanwhile, the five shots allowed were the second-lowest by an opponent (four by San Diego State).
With 23 more shots than Tulsa, it was UCF’s biggest shot differential since a 36-5 advantage vs. UTEP Oct. 9, 2005.
The action stayed near the Tulsa net early in the first half, with the Knights taking the first eight shots of the match. During that stretch, Tishia Jewell placed two shots on goal while Katie Bolinsky and Bianca Joswiak each cranked one shot on net, however Tulsa keeper Katie Bykowski was there to make the save each time.
The 0-0 stalemate soon changed in the 36th minute, though. Taking a pass from Joswiak, Jewell dribbled through the Tulsa backs towards the box and ripped a laser into the far right corner past a diving Bykowski. It was Jewell’s 10th goal while she increased her point total to 30 on the year.
And the 1-0 lead doubled in the 43rd minute. Earning a corner kick, Andrea Rodrigues sent it in where Bykowski tried to grab it out of the air. Yet it slipped out of her hands and Schooley pounced on the loose ball to notch her first goal of the season.
After leading in shots after 45 minutes, 15-2, UCF witnessed the Golden Hurricane start to build some pressure and it eventually resulted in a Tulsa goal in the 61st minute. On a free kick from Claire Hulcher, Claire Nicholson was able to get her head on it and her shot sailed just over UCF keeper Aline Reis and into the net to make it 2-1.
That would not last long as the Knights came right back to make it 3-1 in the 68th minute. Off a pass from Kim Newsome, Katy Ling fired a shot on goal that the Tulsa keeper appeared as though she would control. But she lost her grip on it and Nicolette Radovcic was waiting for the rebound and easily tapped it home for her second goal of 2010.
Stretching its lead back to two, UCF had little trouble holding on to secure first place.
The weekend will conclude for the Knights when they host SMU Sunday at 1 p.m. The defending regular-season champions will then close out the season vs. Southern Miss Oct. 29 before hosting the C-USA Championship Nov. 3-7.