Oct. 28, 2010
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 18 UCF men's soccer team will play host to the UAB Blazers Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the final Conference USA home game of the 2010 season. The Knights come into the game riding a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) after defeating non-conference opponent Stetson, 2-0, Tuesday at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Black and Gold used two goals late in regulation to hold off the Hatters to continue the streak.
The first 75 minutes of the game produced few scoring opportunities for either team as both the Hatters and Knights played tight defensively. It wasn't until the 78th minute of action before UCF's Cameron Cooksey (Marietta, Ga.) slammed home a crossing pass from Luiz Yamashita (Sao Paulo, Brazil) for the game-winner.
Yamashita added an insurance goal with 35 seconds remaining in the game to seal the win. Kevan George (Roxborough, Trinidad) assisted on the goal with a through pass to Yamashita streaking between two defenders at midfield. George also had an assist on the first UCF goal with a pass to Yamashita along the far sideline.
Goalkeeper Shawn Doyle continued his stellar play this season with another shutout, his sixth of the season. That figure ties two other players for seventh-most in a season by a UCF keeper.
The Knights' win was the 10th of the season, marking the first time since the 2004 season that the program reached a double-digit win total. That 11-7-2 season of 2004 was the last season that UCF competed in the A-Sun conference. The Knights' previous record for overall wins in a year since joining C-USA was seven (2005 and 2008). The Knights' four conference wins and 14 points in 2010 are program highs for C-USA play.
UCF has already clinched a berth in the C-USA Tournament, but will look to improve its spot in the field of six. The Knights are seeking one of the top two spots in the tournament in order to secure a first-round bye and an automatic spot in the semifinals.
UAB comes into the game in seventh place, one point back of the sixth and final spot in this year's conference tournament. The Blazers are 2-3 in league games this season after falling to Tulsa, 1-0, in double overtime on Oct. 23. In the team's last game, UAB played to a scoreless draw against non-conference opponent American on Tuesday.
Sodade Babayele leads the team in goals (8) and points (17), while Flo Liu's five assists are good for the team lead. Carl Waszczynski has played the majority of time in goal for the Blazers this season, posting a record of 7-5 with one clean sheet.
The first 50 fans in attendance Friday afternoon will receive UCF sunglass croakies. The Knights will also be available after the game for an autograph session. Fans are encourage to stay after the conclusion of the game as the UCF women's soccer team will be playing in their final regular season home contest of the year as they take on Southern Miss in the second match of the soccer doubleheader.