That season the teams split two games as UCF won 1-0 then fell 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

Sunday’s game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Florida.

Whether playing in front of cameras or against Top-25 competition, the Knights embrace the early challenges as they’ve credited such a schedule for preparing them for when it matters most.

“We’ve shown people the last couple of years who we are and what we’re about,” said UCF Coach Amanda Cromwell, who is 158-68-15 since 1994 and was named 2009 Conference USA and Central Region Coach of the Year.

Florida has had to take notice as of late. The series between the two schools is tied at 2-2-1 since 2004 with the Gators holding the all-time series lead at 2-10-1.

“It’s Florida, and we love to hate the Gators,” said Cromwell with a laugh. “It’s always a rivalry in-state, whether it’s Florida, Florida State, Miami. You always get up more for those than other non-conference games.”

The Knights are coming off a 17-5-1 season in which they were ranked as high as No. 8 and finished with a 43-20 advantage in goals scored. UCF also reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row, making it the 14th appearance in the postseason overall, which is good for the most trips by any program in the state.

What’s changed since then though is the loss of Courtney Whidden and Becca Thomas to graduation. Whidden is No. 2 all-time at UCF in game-winning goals (13), No. 6 in career goals (33) and No. 8 in total points (77) while Thomas ranks No. 4 in all-time assists (29) and No. 5 in both game-winning goals (10) and shots (198).

Yet Cromwell and her staff have shown to have little trouble reloading year after year. It’s that consistency in recruiting that Cromwell says has been vital to the program’s success.

“We have the talent to play with anybody in the country,” she said.

And they’ve done a pretty good job at finding some decent talent, no matter the country.

While players from the state of Florida make up more than half of the UCF roster, including projected starters in sophomore forward Tishia Jewell and junior midfielder Katie Jackson (both out of Satellite High School), as well as senior forward Kim Newsome from Apopka, they’ve been searching far and wide for the next great Knight.

Among them has been junior goalkeeper Aline Reis out of Brazil, defender Bianca Joswiak from Germany, and redshirt sophomore Andrea Rodrigues, who hails from St. Petersburg and played for the Portugal Women’s National Team in a FIFA World Cup qualifier this past summer after suffering a season-ending injury in 2009.

Reis, whom Cromwell says has a “field player’s mentality in the goal” earned All-American status as a freshman and is the 2010 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She ranks No. 5 at UCF in career saves (189) and No. 6 in goals-against average (1.12) after stopping 82 shots in 2009 and 107 as a freshman.

“She tactically is very strong, she reads the game,” said Cromwell. “Even though she is short in stature, she plays big. We’ve had keepers five inches taller than her that get beat on balls overhead that she doesn’t get beat on.”

The Knights will be looking for every player on the roster to play big this weekend as they take aim at getting another season of high hopes underway, with a little dose of bragging rights on the line to boot.

And they’d have it no other way.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Michelle Dillingham (Photo by Jim Hogue)

Sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Dillingham recorded nine saves as the Rollins College women’s soccer team advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second year in a row after scoring a 3-0 win over Florida Tech on Saturday.

The win marked the 13^th time that Rollins has shut out an opponent this season. This Friday the Tars (16-1-2) take on unbeaten West Florida (20-0-0).

Against Florida Tech, Meagan Thomas scored a goal in the 31^st minute on a soft header into the net while Jessica Deese and Chelsea Brady added goals in the second half.

The winner between Rollins and West Florida will take on either Carson-Newman (19-2-1) or Columbus State (16-2-3) in the quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Division II semi-finals and final will be held Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 in Tampa, FL.

Division II Women’s Tournament Bracket

–– Rollins Men’s Soccer ––

Tampa ended the season for the top-seeded Rollins men’s soccer team after getting out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and holding off the Tars 2-1 in the second round of the Division II Tournament.

The Tars got on the board when Jacob Deloach sent the ball in the box where Bradley Welch was there to score on a header in the 66^th minute. The loss ended the season for Rollins, who finished with the best season in program history and a 17-3-1 record.

–– UCF Women’s Soccer ––

The No. 3 seeded UCF women’s soccer team scored a 3-0 first-round win in the NCAA Division I Tournament on Friday against UW-Milwaukee behind two goals from Courtney Whidden and a shutout by keeper Aline Reis. But two days later they succumbed to host Wisconsin, 1-0, in the second round on Sunday.

The loss ended the season for the Knights, who were competing in the tournament for the 14^th time, with a 17-5-1 record after being ranked as high as No. 8 in the country. UCF has been unable to advance past the second round since 1987. The Knights also advanced to the tournament in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

Reis had seven saves in the opening-round win as she held off four shots from Sarah Hagen, the nation’s leading goal scorer, to notch her 13^th shutout in just two seasons at UCF. Alex Brandt scored the third goal of the game for the Knights in the 77^th minute.

With the loss in the second round, senior Becca Thomas ended her career fourth all-time in assists with 29 while Whidden ended her career ranked sixth in goals scored with 33, second in game winner with 13 and eighth all-time in total points with 77.

Thomas and Whidden were part of a senior class that over the course of four years won 57 games, two Conference USA titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times.

–– UCF Men’s Soccer ––

The UCF men’s soccer team failed to advance to the postseason tournament after finishing the season 6-7-3 overall and 2-5-1 in Conference USA. Midfielders Yaron Bacher and Kevan George were selected to the All-Conference USA Second Team while forward Nicholas Robson was named to both the Third Team and all-conference Freshman Team.

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

AJ Turman of Boone (Photo by Chris Schubert)

1.) AJ Turman and Skyler Skersick – Boone Braves – Both had huge nights from the opposite sides of the ball last Friday for the Braves as they went on the road and kept their postseason hopes alive with a huge 48-6 win over Oak Ridge. Turman averaged 15 yards per carry out of the backfield while tallying up 210 yards on 14 carries and scoring four touchdowns. Skersick sacked former teammate Baylin Trujillo six times, including three straight times late in the second quarter. He also managed to block a punt in the process.

2.) Amanda Crowell – UCF Knights – While leading the UCF women’s soccer team into the top-10 Cromwell coached her squad to a regular-season Conference USA title. On Tuesday she was named 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year for her efforts. Joining her on the all-C-USA postseason list were UCF senior Becca Thomas (Midfielder of the Year) and All-C-USA First Team members Courtney Whidden, Nikki Moore and Aline Reis. “The coach of the year award is really about our whole staff and I’m honored that we were recognized,” said Cromwell. “Donna Fishter and Colby Hale deserve so much recognition as their impact as coaches and leaders has been tremendous and they push me to be a better coach every day.” This was the first conference coaching honor for Cromwell despite being one of the most successful coaches in UCF sports history. In over 11 seasons her teams have gone a combined 156-66-15.

3.) Bruce Miller – UCF Knights – The junior defensive end was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his contributions in Sunday night’s come-from-behind 21-20 win over Marshall on ESPN. Miller tallied a team-high 10 tackles, including three for a loss and 2.5 sacks. The key play though came when he stripped the ball from Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson with 2:12 to play. That gave UCF (5-3, 3-2 C-USA) one more possession, which led to the game-winning touchdown pass from Brett Hodges to Rocky Ross. Miller now leads C-USA in both sacks (9) and tackles-for-loss (11.5). Teammate Jarvis Geathers in second in C-USA sacks with sevens and third in tackles-for-loss with 9.5 in all.

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

4.) Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic – Howard was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the eighth time in his career by helping the Magic start the season 3-0. He averaged 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over that stretch in wins over Philadelphia, New Jersey and Toronto. The 6-11 center posted double-doubles in all three games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on the road against the Nets. That followed a 21-point, 15-rebound outing in the season opener and was preceded by a 24-point, 11-rebound effort against the Raptors.

5.) Men’s and Women’s soccer – Rollins Tars – The men’s team claimed a share of the 2009 Sunshine State Conference Championship along with Tampa and set a new school record for wins in a season by going 16-1-1 overall and 7-1 in the SSC. The 16 wins eclipses the 15 wins previously earned back in 1994. The title is the third for Rollins and head coach Keith Buckley since 2004. The women’s team, ranked No. 8 in D-II with a 13-1-2 overall mark and 7-0-1 conference record, wrapped up their second-straight Sunshine State Conference regular season championship and are hosting the conference tournament semifinals and championship match this weekend starting Nov. 6.

More ––

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/28/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/21/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09

Emily Maynard (Photo by Scott McCall)

Becca Thomas (Photo by Scott McCall)

They finished the regular season with nine-straight wins and the Conference USA regular season title last Friday following a 4-0 win over Southern Miss on senior night. This week the No. 8 UCF women’s soccer team takes the top seed into the C-USA Tournament over the weekend in Dallas, Texas.

The Knights (15-3-1, 10-1-0) have now won three C-USA regular-season titles in five years with the 2009 crown being won outright for the first time since the Knights won the Atlantic Sun in 2003.

Courtney Whidden (Photo by Scott McCall)

Amanda Martorana (Photo by Scott McCall)

Head coach Amanda Cromwell, in her 11^th year guiding the program, may end up taking her best team ever into tournament play. After Friday’s game she began focusing on the two upcoming matches at the conference tournament before bracing for the chance to play six more after that at the NCAA Tournament.

Against Southern Miss seven UCF seniors, Yvonne George, Lynzee Lee, Emily Maynard, Nikki Moore, Amaka Ofuani, Becca Thomas and Courtney Whidden, competed in their final home game of their careers at the UCF Soccer Complex, where the Knights have gone 24-4-6 since 2006.

Kim Newsome (Photo by Scott McCall)

Katie Jackson (Photo by Scott McCall)

The crowd of 1,048 was the second most for a match this year after a school-record 1,142 witnessed UCF defeat No. 4 Florida State on Sept. 10. A school-record 4,601 fans made it out to eight home games in all this season.

– More UCF women’s soccer coverage –

Story, audio and photos from Eric Lopez and Brandon Helwig at UCF Sports

Story by Carlos Pineda at Central Florida Future

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

Becca Thomas

1.) Becca Thomas – UCF Knights – She did it again. One week after being named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for scoring two game-winning goals, senior Becca Thomas went back-to-back by netting two more game-winners against Rice and Houston (three goals in all) as the Knights got two wins each by a score of 2-1. The nine game-winners by Thomas ranks No. 6 all-time in program history. At 12-3-1 overall and 7-1-0 in C-USA the Knights have moved up to No. 4 in the recent NCAA Ratings Percentage Index report and are ranked in the Top 16 of three different women’s college soccer polls.

2.) Mike Dorcely – Lake Highland Prep Highlanders – Just a freshman, Mike Dorcely is already in his second season as a starter at Lake Highland Prep where last Friday night he scored three touchdowns and intercepted two passes to lead the No. 5 Highlanders (in Class 2B) to a 24-0 win over Mount Dora. Dorcely, described as an energetic and exciting kid with a passion for the game by LHP head coach Tim Borcky, took an interception 99 yards for a score and crossed the goal line on a pass play of 42 yards and a run of 25 yards in the win.

3.) Brooks Bollinger – Florida Tuskers – After completing his first 11 passes of the game last week in Las Vegas, quarterback Brooks Bollinger finished the night 24 of 32 passing for 310 yards and three touchdowns in Florida’s 29-15 win over the Locomotives. Bollinger completed passes to 10 different receivers on the night to help the Tuskers improve to 2-0 and sit alone atop the four-team United Football League. The Tuskers return to action on Thursday night at Florida Citrus Bowl.

Torrell Troup (Photo by Scott McCall)

4.) Felipe Quiroga – Timber Creek Wolves – By scoring a 2-under par on Monday at Timacuan Golf Club in the Class 2A, District 7 boys golf tournament, Felipe Quiroga helped Timber Creek High School capture its first district title. His round of 70 was also the best performance of the day among the district competition. The Wolves, who outdid Winter Park and Ocoee at the event, move on to compete at the regional tournament on Monday at Windermere Country Club.

5.) Torrell Troup – UCF Knights – It was announced on Tuesday that 6-3, 314 pound senior defensive tackle Torrell Troup will represent the UCF Knights at the annual East-West Shrine Game in January at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Troup has demanded double-teams his entire career and was already being looked at by NFL scouts. He has helped the Knights defense rank No. 10 nationally in rushing defense and tackles-for-loss and No. 11 nationally in sacks. Troup has freed himself on the football field enough to record 20 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack this season.

More – Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

1.) Demetrius “Dee” Hart – Dr. Phillips Panthers – With a chance to take over the No. 1 spot in the state’s Class 6A high school football rankings Dee Hart scored five touchdowns to led the Panthers to a 47-9 triumph on the road over Boone on Friday night. Not only did the junior score four times on just 13 carries but he managed to rush for 244 yards and also score on a 63-yard punt return in the win.

Brooks Bollinger (Photo by Alex Menendez)

2.) Becca Thomas – UCF Knights – The senior midfielder scored a game-winning goal against UTEP on Friday night in a 3-2 win then connected on what would be the game-winner again against Colorado State on Sunday in a 4-1 win. Those efforts helped lead the Top-25 women’s soccer team to their fourth-straight victory. Thomas was then named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week and also named to the Soccer America Team of the Week.

3.) Brooks Bollinger – Florida Tuskers –The former draft pick of the New York Jets brought pro football back to Orlando in a big way on Saturday by leading the Tuskers, of the inaugural United Football League, to a 35-13 win at the Citrus Bowl over the New York Sentinels. Coached by offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, of Arena Football fame, Bollinger threw four touchdowns on 20 of 26 passing for a total of 225 yards.

Taylor Dubins

4.) Matt Prater – Denver Broncos – The former UCF placekicker booted a 41-yard field goal in overtime to help the unbeaten Broncos defeat the New England Patriots on Sunday. Although most remembered by local fans as the scapegoat following an extra-point miss which led to a UCF loss in the 2005 Hawaii Bowl, Prater is in his second year as an NFL starter and has a career-long field goal of 56 yards to his credit.

5.) Taylor Dubins – UCF Knights – Competing with the tennis team at the UNF Fall Invitational in Jacksonville over the weekend, sophomore Taylor Dubins won her first-career title in the Flight C singles bracket after combining to lose just four games in the final two rounds. Dubins coasted to a 6-0, 6-1 win over a player from Samford before cruising past an opponent from Coastal Carolina, 6-3, 6-0, in the finals.

Aline Reis

After starting the season with big wins over Top-10 teams UCF has climbed into the national rankings, competing at No. 16 over the weekend, with a number of players coming away with personal accolades in the process.

This week senior defender Nikki Moore and senior midfielder Becca Thomas both earned C-USA honors while helping their team win its fourth in a row. That makes six UCF players in all who have been awarded hardware from the league this season.

Moore was named defensive player of the week after helping shut down a key offensive threat from UTEP and again holding her own in one-on-one situations against Colorado State. In that second game she also netted her first goal of the year after dribbling from midfield towards the box and landing a long shot into the far right corner of the net.

There have now been 13 different Knights who have found the back of the net during the 2009 season.

Thomas took home the offensive player of the week award thanks to game-winning goals against both UTEP and Colorado State. Her game-winners came on a penalty kick in the 55th minute on Friday and on a free kick past a wall of defenders in the 42nd minute on Sunday. She also had an assist over the weekend.

Yvonne George

The last time two Knights were recognized as both offensive and defensive players of the week, in the same week, was just a month ago when it was pulled off by sophomore goalkeeper Aline Reis and senior forward Courtney Whidden, who is perhaps the most clutch goal scorer in UCF history. Reis was also named NSCAA National Player of the Week this season.

Senior Lynzee Lee won defensive honors on Sept. 7 and Winter Springs native Yvonne George won offensive honors on Oct. 5 for the Knights, the third of her career.

UCF, who is ranked No. 14 by Soccer America and awaits rankings of two other polls, will be on the road at Rice, Houston, SMU and Tulsa before closing out the regular season at home on Friday, Oct. 30 against Southern Miss at 7 p.m.

The only conference loss for the Knights this season came in a 1-0 setback to Memphis. They also suffered a 1-0 loss to No. 12 South Carolina a little more than a month ago and have played one of the toughest schedules in the country. The C-USA Championship will be held at SMU in Dallas, Nov. 4-8.

The lone goal of the night in a 1-0 win came from senior Courtney Whidden, who after shaking off a defender sent a header far post and into the net with just five minutes remaining in the game. She was set up on a free kick from senior Becca Thomas from outside the box.

Courtney Whidden

Then the celebration began by the largest UCF women’s soccer crowd (topping the 1,134 mark set at the 1982 NCAA Finals against North Carolina) in school history.

The last time the Knights had defeated FSU on their home field was in 1998. Less than two weeks ago UCF defeated No. 10 Duke at the Carolina Nike Classic.

Maybe now the powers that be will recognize the Black and Gold once the upcoming set of collegiate rankings are released.

“What an incredible night. A record crowd. An awesome game. Exciting chances,” said head coach Amanda Cromwell. “Our back line was tremendous and Aline Reis came up with the big saves when she had to. It’s a huge win for the program.”

Reis recorded her eighth career shutout by turning away nine shots after missing the past two games with injury. The sophomore has teamed up with senior keeper Lynzee Lee to help UCF shut out three-straight opponents.

At 4-1-1 so far this season, the only blemish on the year for UCF was a lopsided loss to No. 1 North Carolina. The Knights then drew a tie with LSU before meeting up with the Seminoles. The final non-conference game on the schedule takes place on Sunday at home against USF at 1 p.m.

More UCF vs. Florida State coverage:

Details at WFTV 9

Iliana Limón provides coverage at Orlando Sentinel

Over the weekend the Knights (2-1) competed in the Carolina Nike Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. and on Sunday rallied from a 1-0 hole to defeat No. 10 Duke, 3-2, thanks to two goals by senior Courtney Whidden and the game-winner in the 87th minute off the head of sophomore Stacie Hubbard.

The final goal of the game, which bounced off the crossbar before going in, was the first of Hubbard’s collegiate career and came by way of corner kick from senior Becca Thomas. That effort spoiled the momentum of the Blue Devils, who had knotted the score at 2-2 with just five minutes left to play.

Senior Aline Reis recorded two saves in the first half while senior Lynzee Lee made six saves in the second half to earn her first victory in the net for the Black and Gold.

The big win for the Knights (just their second in eight tries against Duke) came two days after suffering a tough 4-0 loss to No. 1 North Carolina.

UCF returns to action Sept. 4 at the USF Tournament in Tampa before hosting No. 5 Florida State on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. and USF on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.

Last season the Knights ranked as high as No. 18 in the polls. They suffered regular season losses to No. 4 FSU and No. 21 Kansas while earning wins over No. 17 Illinois and No. 19 Florida. Their run in the NCAA Tournament ended at the hands of the Gators though following a first-round win over Miami.

The Knights, led by head coach Amanda Cromwell, closed out 2008 with a 14-6-3 mark, having made their 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1982 and finishing with at least 10 wins for the 22nd time in 28 seasons of play.