ORLANDO – After serving the last two seasons as a mainstay on the UCF men’s soccer team’s back line, Jonas Fritschi has joined the professional ranks.
The former Knights fifth year senior has signed his professional contract with TSG Balingen of Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in his native Germany. Fritschi becomes the third Knight following the 2024 fall campaign to sign with a professional club, joining Anderson Rosa (Colorado Rapids 2) and Lucca Dourado (Birmingham Legion).
Fritschi’s efforts were crucial in UCF’s defensive scheme allowing two or fewer goals in 15 of its 16 matches in 2024, as the Donaueschingen, Germany, native started each of the Knights’ 16 games and totaled 1,391 minutes on the pitch. He played the full 90 minutes on 14 occasions as well.
The defender earned Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors Nov. 5, aiding the Black and Gold in shutting out a South Carolina offensive corps that entered the game leading the conference in goals per game (2.36, 7th NCAA), points per game (6.71, 12th NCAA), total goals (33, 14th NCAA), total points (94, 19th NCAA) and shots on goal per game (6.43, 20th NCAA).
He also scored his first collegiate goal in the 62nd minute of the Knights’ road match at FIU Sept. 11, a contest during which he notched a season high four shot attempts.
As a senior in 2023, he appeared in eight games and totaled 517 minutes throughout his first NCAA Division I campaign before his season was cut short due to injury.
He recorded his first career point in helping lead UCF to a 3-1 win over NC State Sept. 1, an assist on Robbie Soronellas’ game-tying goal in the 69th minute.
He recorded seven total shot attempts and four on goal throughout the season, including two shot attempts against then-No. 11 FIU Sept. 5 and Georgia Southern Oct. 7.
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