ORLANDO (Nov. 5, 2017) — A total of 110 minutes of play came down to five penalty kicks and one save.
 
The University of South Florida women's soccer team captured its first-ever American Athletic Conference title by defeating nationally ranked No. 8 UCF, 5-3, in penalty kicks in Sunday's championship match.
 
USF dominated the close scoring opportunities through the entire match. The Bulls had eight shots (four on goal) compared to three shots by the Knights in the first half, and had a 13-7 shot advantage at the end of regulation.
 
The Bulls' defense denied numerous threats by the Knights and freshman Chyanne Dennis (Sunrise, Fla.) was outstanding, blocking shot after shot in front of the goal.
 
Senior Kat Elliott (Bradenton, Fla.), in her third American tournament championship, was poised and focused with seven saves. Elliott, the tournament's most outstanding defensive player, was a hero for the Bulls in the final moments of the match. The Bulls had scored four penalty kicks, and UCF was up to shoot for its fourth. UCF's leading goal scorer, senior Morgan Ferrara, took her spot. She shot chest high to Elliott's left, while Elliott shifted and punched it out as the crowd erupted.
 
Redshirt sophomore defender Kelli Burney found the back of the net on the final shot to give USF the title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
Quotable
Goalkeeper Elliott on the win…
"I don't think there are words for it. We've been to the championship game three times and didn't make it in penalty kicks. I thought, 'Senior year, it's time to put it all on the field.'"
 
Goalkeeper Elliott on the strategy behind the save…
"We watched their semifinal game, and Morgan is a good player and you just have to go with your gut. It's a lot to change your penalty kick at the last minute, and I didn't think she would change it, and I guessed right."
 
Goalkeeper Elliott on focusing on what's ahead…
"It's all about recovering. It's a great win and a good feeling to win, but we have so much on the road ahead of us, we have so much still left in the tank to go."
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on the win…
"I just feel like we have been cursed by penalty kicks so this was a nemesis, and we came back and won a championship in penalty kicks. We prepared more than we normally do, and it's amazing to see how young the girls are that handled the stress and put it in. Kat was amazing. I'm just really proud of the group. We have stayed together and we haven't listened to anything outside of what we think is important."
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on the strategy preparing for penalties…
"Unfortunately for Morgan that was her second PK that we saw. We knew what side that she went to, and felt confident that if she had a PK that Kat was going to save it."
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on how this win feels…
"It's awesome. It's what you work for all year, and what you want for the girls. I feel super blessed. My family is here because it was at UCF. It's amazing having my twins and my parents, and not many people get to coach with their husband. It's a great feeling. I feel very blessed."
 
Key Stat
5- Five penalty kicks and one save gave USF the win over UCF.
 
Notables

• Sophomore Evelyne Viens (L'ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada) was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player.
• Senior Kat Elliott was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player.
• Elliott, Viens, Burney, Aubrey Megrath and Andrea Hauksdottir were named to the all-tournament team.
• With the win, the Bulls earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They will play the first round next weekend. The location, opponent and date will be announced Monday at 4:30 p.m.
• USF and UCF each had 17 shots, but the Bulls had nine on target to UCF's seven.
• Viens led with four shots on target, Hauksdottir had three.
• The USF penalty kicks were made by Hauksdottir, Viens, Sabrina Wagner, Leah Ferlin and Burney.
• On this day two years ago, the Bulls beat UCF in the conference semifinals. They advanced to the finals, where they were defeated in penalty kicks by Cincinnati.

 
Be sure to follow USF women's soccer on social media (Twitter / Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF women's soccer team has posted five consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins and six in the last seven years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. Schilte-Brown reached her 100^th win with USF last season, and will begin her eleventh season as head coach in 2017. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and returned in 2014 & 2015.