UCF's Season Ends in PKs at Tulsa

November 7, 2015

Nov. 7, 2015

UCF-Tulsa - 11/7/15 - Images by UCF Knights

TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF senior forward Hadji Barry put the Knights up twice by a single goal, but Tulsa found the equalizer each time Saturday in the quarterfinals of The American Championship. Neither team could break the deadlock after 110 minutes and the Golden Hurricane moved to the semifinals 4-2 on penalty kicks at Hurricane Stadium.

"To go on the road and battle at Tulsa to the bitter end and lose on penalties is heartbreaking," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "I am proud of our seniors and all that they have done for the program. This group is going to build upon this experience, bounce back and make great strides next year."

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The Knights (7-8-2) were facing their first penalty-kick shootout since Cunningham took over the program in 2007. Tulsa (7-6-4) had a veteran group that defeated USF last year in penalties to capture the 2014 American Championship.

"We practice penalty kicks all year, but you can't practice the actual moment when it matters," Cunningham said. "I thought their goalkeeper made one really good save and unfortunately we missed another. Brendan was close to making saves on two of theirs."

PENALTY KICKS
- UCF found itself in an early hole after missing the first one high and having its second saved.
- Tulsa took advantage by scoring on its first two chances.
- Barry and freshman Jakov Basic converted their penalties, but Cole Poppen's strike in the fourth frame ended the match.

MAKE THAT 10 GOALS
- In the 28th minute, sophomore Walker Dawkins sent a through ball that found a streaking Barry just outside the box.
- The Rochester, N.Y., native dribbled around the defender and keeper before calmly putting the Knights on top, 1-0.
- The marker was his 10th of the season, which last occurred in 2013 by Romario Williams.

"Hadji left it on the field tonight and rose to the occasion," Cunningham said. "For this last month, he has really been unselfish in his game and has been rewarded for that. He has a bright future ahead of him in professional soccer. "

BARRY BREAKS AWAY
- A phenomenal pass by freshman C.J. Campbell from midfield sent Barry on a breakaway inside the 18-yard box.
- Barry controlled the pass and beat the keeper with a poised strike to put the Knights back on top just two minutes after Tulsa found an equalizer, 2-1.
- He moved into third on the league's scoring list with the goal.

TULSA'S EQUALIZERS
- In the 51st minute, Lesley Jchanji tied the match 1-1 on a header from the right as Juan Sanchez and Poppen drew assists.
- With under 10 minutes remaining off a corner, Michael Mitrik found the final equalizer.

DEFENSIVE EFFORT
- Freshman goalkeeper Brendan Rennie faced 24 shots in the match, but was only forced to make four saves.
- The Knights' defense had a shutout streak of 248 minutes snapped early in the second half on the Nchanji goal.

Story by Nate Blythe. Photos by Brad Helton.