Box Score BOX SCORE

SEASON STATS

ORLANDO, FLA. – Allie Thornton scored the game-winner in the final 10 minutes as SMU knocked off No. 24 UCF on the road Thursday night.

The Mustangs (9-5-1, 4-3-0) were looking to break a three-game losing skid after a trio of tough one goal losses. The reigning conference champs and current conference leaders, UCF (8-5-1, 5-2-0) came into the contest off a pair of wins including topping No. 18 Memphis' last weekend.

Both teams had their fair share of chances in the first half, with SMU missing a couple close ones including a breakaway from Thornton and a near miss from Celiana Torres.

The second half continued the same with Catie Brown coming up with clutch saves to keep the game scoreless heading into the final minutes.

In the 81st minute, senior Vanessa Valadez pushed a ball up to Katina Tsapos in the attacking third. Tsapos whipped one into Thornton just outside the goal area. The junior striker spun on a dime and fired a quick bullet beating the keeper and sending the Mustangs ahead. It was Thornton's team-leading ninth goal of the season with assists credited to Valadez and Tsapos.

The SMU defense held tight in the final minutes for their fourth shutout of the season, knocking away a few UCF chances and a pair of corners. The win gives SMU 12 points in AAC play and its first ranked win since knocking off Cincinnati in 2017.

The Mustangs held the edge in corners, 6-3, while UCF maintained an advantage in shots, 13-6, with four saves credited to Brown.

Next up, the Mustangs wrap up their Florida road trip with another ranked matchup against No. 20 South Florida on Sunday at noon.