June 9, 2005
ORLANDO - The UCF men's soccer team announced its 2005 slate, which features 12 home matches, on Thursday. In addition to two home tournaments, the schedule also includes plenty of familiar and new foes as the Golden Knights play their first season in Conference USA.
"We're excited about making the move into Conference USA because the quality of the competition is among the best in the nation," said UCF head coach Brent Erwin, who is in his first season at the helm. "We are looking forward to the challenge of the new season."
After finishing 11-7-2 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2004, UCF opens up the regular season against in-state rival USF on Aug. 27 in Tampa. The squad then enjoys at seven-match homestand beginning with the Kickoff Classic on Sept. 2 and extending through to the end of the month. During that time, the Knights also host the adidas Classic as well as three former Atlantic Sun opponents - Jacksonville (9/7), Stetson (9/13) and Florida Atlantic (9/22). UCF concludes the non-conference campaign on Sept. 25 at UNF.
The Golden Knights make their C-USA debut at home against Marshall on Sept. 30 then take on Kentucky on Oct. 2.
In a rematch of UCF's NCAA First Round game the past three years, the squad meets Florida International in Miami on Oct. 8.
Erwin, who was assistant coach at SMU for the last six seasons, visits the Mustangs on Oct. 14 in Dallas, Texas before traveling to Tulsa for an Oct. 16 match-up with the Golden Hurricane.
The Knights host East Carolina on Oct. 21 before assistant coach Bryan Cunningham faces his previous squad South Carolina in the home finale.
UCF closes the season on the road with stops at UAB (10/28) and Memphis (10/30).
The top eight teams make the 2005 C-USA Tournament. Dates and sites for the championship are determined by seeding.