Oct. 2, 2007
UCF Notes vs. Charlotte in PDF Format
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ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - After playing six of its first nine matches on the road, the UCF men's soccer team returns to the UCF Soccer Complex on Oct. 3 for a 7 p.m. match-up with Charlotte. The game also serves as a final tune-up for the bulk of the Conference USA slate, which began with a 1-1 double overtime tie with Memphis on Sept. 15 and continues on Saturday, Oct. 6 at No. 9 SMU.
"Being on the road was great preparation for our upcoming conference schedule because so many of those games will also be on the road," said UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham. "Many of our non-conference opponents were comparable to those that we'll face in the league. The team became aware of some of the adversities that we might battle in the upcoming month."
With the first month of competition behind them, the Knights carry a 4-4-1 overall record into October. Junior Ryan Roushandel (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) remains one of the top offensive players in the conference as he is tied for third in goals scored (5) and for first in game-winners (3). He also boasts a league-leading 34 shots.
In the C-USA team statistical rankings, UCF is fourth in shots (124) and tied for fourth in goals scored (14). The Knights are also second in saves with 46, while freshman Sean Jonson (Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood HS) is second among the league's goalkeepers with 42 total saves.
At 5-3 overall, the 49ers bring a two-game winning streak to Orlando after shutting out Presbyterian, 1-0, and Appalachian State, 4-0. Against the Mountaineers on Sept. 29, senior Tom Wooland scored a pair of goals, while junior Chris Salvaggione tallied two assists. Sophomore David Martin made four saves to record his second shutout of the year.
Salvaggione leads Charlotte with 11 points on three goals and five assists followed by sophomore Luke Exley with eight points (3 goals, 2 assists) and Woollard with six points (3 goals). Martin has posted a 1.00 goals-against-average in seven games.
"Charlotte is another tough regional opponent," said Cunningham. "They are very disciplined and organized. It is important for us to bounce back from our loss at Saint Louis and have a good showing, especially at home."
Wednesday marks the first meeting between the Knights and the 49ers, making this the fifth time during the 2007 season that UCF faces an opponent for the first time in program history. In the first month of play, the Knights faced Cincinnati and Loyola Marymount at the Nike/TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational in New Mexico then visited Boston University and, most recently, Saint Louis.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pics.