UCF Press Release

November 8, 2002

ORLANDO - The UCF women's soccer team (16-4-0, 10-1-0) looks to become the first team to repeat as the Atlantic Sun Champions since 1998-99 this week as the No. 1 seeded Golden Knights travel to Campbell for the Atlantic Sun Championship. UCF, the last school to win back-to-back conference crowns, looks for its conference leading eighth all-time title and the fourth championship in five seasons Friday in the A-Sun semifinal. As the No. 1 seed, UCF earned a bye in the opening round of the tournament and will face the winner of the No. 4-5 match between Jacksonville State and Georgia State Friday at 4 p.m.

In the regular season, UCF defeated both teams, winning 1-0 in overtime at Georgia State on Sept. 26 and 4-0 over Jacksonville State Oct. 19 in Orlando. The only team that has defeated UCF in this week's field is Jacksonville. The Dolphins downed UCF 3-2 with a goal in the final minute of regulation Oct. 16 at UCF.

UCF's Title Run In The A-Sun
UCF has been the most dominant school in the conference, winning seven A-Sun Championships, the most of any school. The Golden Knights are a resounding 12-2-1 all-time in A-Sun Postseason play. All-time in conference action, UCF has gone a remarkable 66-10-3 and under the leadership of head coach Amanda Cromwell, the Golden Knights have won 34 of their 39 matches, finishing 34-4-1.

UCF won the conference title in 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993. The Golden Knights have also reached the championship match in every conference tournament except in 2000, when Florida Atlantic knocked off UCF in the semifinals, 2-1.

A Season To Remember
The 2002 season will go down as one of the best in UCF women's soccer history. The Golden Knights have tied the school record for victories in a season with 16. The 1999 team also finished with 16 wins, ending its season with a 16-6-1 mark including a trip the NCAA Tournament.

The 16-win season is also the third time in four seasons under Amanda Cromwell that UCF has won at least 10 matches. Last season, UCF finished with a 14-6-0 overall record and the '99 team finished 16-6-1 in Cromwell's first season at the helm in Orlando.

Montgomery Among The Nation's Elite
Freshman forward Jennifer Montgomery has been sensational in her first season with the Golden Knights. The Colton, Calif., native was named the Atlantic Sun Freshman-of-the-Year while also earning a spot on the A-Sun First Team.

The Colton, Calif. native is the first UCF player ever named the A-Sun's Freshman-of-the-Year.

Montgomery ranks second among all NCAA Division I-A freshmen with 44 points, which also leads the Atlantic Sun. Montgomery is also among the top freshmen in the country in goals scored, ranking second in the nation with 16 goals.

In the NCAA rankings, Montgomery is 16th in the nation in points per game (2.20), 27th in goals per game (0.80), and 21st in assists per game (0.60).

Freshman Sensation
Jennifer Montgomery has passed some of soccer's all-time greats with the phenomenal season she has had with the Golden Knights. The freshman sensation is second all-time on the single-season points list at UCF, just two away from tying the record of Amy Jones (46, 1995).

With her goal and assist in UCF's win at Gardner-Webb, Montgomery moved past one of soccer's all-time greats in Michelle Akers in single-season points. Akers was second in school history with 40 points she scored during the 1986 campaign.

Montgomery is also closing in on the all-time single-season goals and assists records. Montgomery needs four more goals to tie Amy Jones (1995/20) for the single-season record and five more assists to equal Cally Howell's school record of 17 assists set during the 2000 campaign.

Seven Golden Knights Garner A-Sun Honors
Jennifer Montgomery was one of four UCF women's soccer players to be selected to the Atlantic Sun First Team Tuesday by the league's coaches. Montgomery was also voted as the Atlantic Sun Freshman-of-the-Year, the first time a UCF player has received the honor.

Joining Montgomery on the first team included senior defender Jackie VanLooven, senior forward Nicole Cieslak and senior goalkeeper Jessica Kuhlman.

Sophomore midfielder Allison Blagriff was named to the A-Sun Second Team while three UCF freshmen earned All-Freshmen honors. Joining Montgomery on the A-Sun All-Freshmen team included defender Summer Savage and midfielder Courtney Baines.

The honor for VanLooven was the third time she has garnered a spot on the A-Sun First Team. She also joined an elite list of UCF players that have been named to the A-Sun First Team three times. Only Alyssa O'Brien (1996-98) and Leslie Golden (1994-96) have also earned spots on the A-Sun First Team three times during their careers at UCF.

Cieslak picked up her second consecutive A-Sun First Team honor after being named to the team last season. The A-Sun First Team selection for Kuhlman was the first time in her career she has been selected to an A-Sun All-Conference Team.

UCF Wins With Defense
The UCF defense has been a key factor in leading the Golden Knights to their 16-4-0 record in 2002. UCF has totaled 11 shutouts in its 20 matches while only allowing 20 goals all season long.

The 11 shutout victories also rank the 2002 team third in single-season shutouts at UCF. The 1986 team holds the school record with 13 shutout wins while the 1987 team totaled 12.

Cieslak Moves Up The Career Charts
Nicole Cieslak has had quite a senior season for the Golden Knights. The Orlando native ranks second on the team and fourth in the conference with 31 points. Cieslak has tallied 12 goals and seven assists on the year.

Over her outstanding career at UCF, Cieslak has moved into the top 10 career lists in goals and points at UCF. Cieslak is tied for eighth in UCF history with 76 career points and eighth in career history with 29 goals.

One of the top clutch players ever to wear the Black and Gold, Cieslak is tied for fifth on the career charts in game-winning goals with eight.

Kuhlman Keeping Her Cool In Net
Jessica Kuhlman has been rock solid in net for UCF over her career and in 2002. Kuhlman has an impressive 15-4-0 record on the year including a sparkling 0.87 goals against average. The GAA also ranks Kuhlman first in the A-Sun in that category.

Kuhlman has also recorded her name in the UCF record books. The St. Charles, Mo., native is fourth in school history with 139 career saves. Her 18 career shutouts also place her tied for fifth in the UCF record books.

The eight shutouts this season are tied for eighth on the single-season charts while her 73 saves in 2002 are eighth in single-season history at UCF.

Did You Know?
Amanda Cromwell is the only active WUSA player that is currently the head coach of a Division I-A women's soccer program. Cromwell plays for the Atlanta Beat in the professional women's soccer league.

UCF In The Rankings
UCF is ranked ninth this week in the Soccerbuzz.com Southeast Region Rankings. The Golden Knights improved one spot in the rankings from last week.

Soccerbuzz.com Southeast Rankings
1. North Carolina    14-1-4
2. Charlotte    15-0-2
3. Florida State    11-5-3
4. Clemson    12-6-0
5. Auburn    14-3-2
6. Wake Forest    12-6-1
7. South Carolina    13-5-2
8. NC State    10-7-1
9. UCF        16-4-0
10. Duke        8-8-1
Furman        13-5-1

Cromwell Named One Of The ACC's 50 Greatest
UCF Head Coach Amanda Cromwell was selected to the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Women's Soccer Team, announced by ACC Commissioner John Swofford.

"It's a great honor to be included on the list," commented Cromwell. "When you look at the players who were honored, it's a who's-who of the W-USA and the National Team."

Cromwell was four-year standout at the University of Virginia from 1988-91. During her career with the Cavaliers, Cromwell was a two-time NSCAA All-American and a two-time Soccer America MVP. Cromwell was also a four-time All-ACC selection and a four-time all-region selection.

Cromwell is one of the all-time greats to come out of the Virginia soccer program. She currently ranks fourth in school history with 84 career points and is third in career goals with 35. Even more impressive, Cromwell's teams went a combined 60-19-4 during her career in Charlottesville.

"I enjoyed my time in the ACC and playing at Virginia. I had a great time and my career ended with a Final Four Appearance. Overall, the ACC is a great conference and it was a great experience throughout my career."

UCF On The A-Sun All-Tournament Team
Since the Atlantic Sun started an all-tournament team in 1994, UCF has had 37 selections named to the squad including five tournament MVPs. The 37 selections to the all-tournament team along with the five tournament MVPs are also the most of any Atlantic Sun school.

UCF's A-Sun Tournament MVPs
2001    Michelle Anderson
1999    Cally Howell
1998    Alyssa O'Brien
1995    Liz Shaw
1994    Amy Geltz
   
Last season, UCF had five players merit A-Sun All-Tournament Honors including the tournament MVP, Michelle Anderson.

In all, six active players have garnered all-tournament honors at least once during their careers in Orlando. Seniors Amanda King and Brooke Asby earned the award in 1999 while juniors Amanda Sidor and Lindsay Maier both earned the honors in 2000 and 2001. Jessica Kuhlman and Jackie VanLooven also were selected the teams the last two seasons.

Total Domination
The Golden Knights have been potent on offense and stingy defensively all season long.

UCF is eighth nationally in scoring offense with its 2.90 goals per game average. On the season, UCF has outscored the opposition 58-20 while totaling 365 shots and allowing just 177.

UCF's .800 winning percentage is also among the national leaders, ranking 19th. The Golden Knights are also ranked 18th in the nation in shutout percentage with 55% of their games ending in shutouts.



 

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