There was no shortage of hugs for Nicolette Radovcic following the No. 9 UCF women’s soccer team’s 1-0 win against No. 12 Miami on Sunday.
The senior forward leapt into the arms of her teammates after netting the game-winner and was still a ball of energy after the team’s post-game meeting when she barreled toward head coach Amanda Cromwell for one more hug before heading into the locker room.
“That was probably top two (goal celebration),” Radovcic said. “This is huge for us. It was a great atmosphere. The rain and everything, you can’t get much better than that.”
The weather was fairly cooperative until the second half when UCF got a preview of Tropical Storm Isaac . The rain hung around on-and-off as the teams ended regulation scoreless.
Just before the 10th minute of play, UCF goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado dived to her right to snatch Miami’s Jasmine Paterson’s shot on goal.
The Knights tried to make something happen in the 30th minute when freshman Taylor Townsend passed the ball to Radovcic, who played it right back to Townsend but Miami keeper Emily Lillard scooped up the ball before Townsend could meet it.
UCF was much more aggressive on the attack in the second half. Reserve Kristina Trujic nearly put the Knights on the board in the 60th minute when her shot was deflected over the crossbar. Later, Trujic sent a cross from the right corner of the field to senior Bianca Joswiak, but Joswiak’s attempt sailed over the net.
Megan Fish had another great look in the 84th minute just outside the top-center of the box, but her attempt went wide right and the game headed into overtime.
It only took five minutes for Fish to play a ball into Radovcic, who juked behind the defense to send a shot into the far corner of the net for her second goal of the year.
UCF continues its four-game homestand next weekend when it hosts Dartmouth, USF and Georgia in the UCF Tournament. The Knights play Dartmouth on Friday at 7:30 p.m. following the USF-Georgia game set for 5 p.m.