Oct. 4, 2010
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - It will be hard to top the feeling of Saturday night's win for the UCF men's soccer team. The 2-1 victory over No. 5 SMU was the first over a top-10 team in program history for the Knights and the first against SMU. But, the team has to regroup and prepare for Tuesday night's matchup with instate rival and Conference USA foe Florida International in a game that will be shown on the Bright House Sports Network at 7 p.m.
The Knights were 5-2 entering Saturday's game with the Mustangs, but were lacking a season-defining moment.
That all changed with one boot from the foot of junior Spencer Scott (Palm City, Fla.). As if out of a movie, Scott promised his mother a goal before the start of the game for her birthday and delivered with the game winner in the 66th minute.
Scott acknowledged that the goal was the biggest of his career, but more importantly, the goal may have been the biggest in program history.
Playing in front of a crowd of nearly 1,100 and with the nation's fifth-ranked team in town, UCF continued its winning ways with the one-goal victory. The Knights are now 2-0 in C-USA play for just the second time since joining the league.
Sophomore Nik Robson (Auckland, New Zealand) continued his impressive sophomore season as he netted his third goal in as many games with a tally in the 12th minute against the Mustangs. Robson now has seven goals in 2010 and ranks amongst the nation's top offensive players.
Goalkeeper Shawn Doyle (Ft. Myers, Fla.) turned aside three SMU shots in the win, his sixth of the season. Doyle was the picture of composure late in the one-goal game, directing teammates in front of him where to position themselves during corner kicks and scoring opportunities for the Mustangs.
With the win now behind them, the Knights will change focus to the Golden Panthers and the Tuesday night meeting at the UCF Soccer Complex.
FIU comes to Orlando with a 4-4 overall record, while 0-1 in league play. The team lost in its most recent game, a 2-1 overtime loss at Marshall, on Saturday night in its C-USA opener.
Playing the second of three home games in a week may seem like a tall task for some teams, the Knights are just glad to be home after playing three straight weekends on the road. During the trip, UCF posted a mark of 3-2 before returning home for the game with SMU.
FIU leads the all-time series 25-9-3, but the Knights claimed a 2-1 win last season in the annual meeting between the two teams. Captain Yaron Bacher (Atlanta, Ga.) scored the eventual game winner in the 73rd minute to give his team the 2-1 win. Robson netted the early goal against the Golden Panthers on a penalty kick in the 17th minute.
The first 50 fans in attendance will receive UCF 80's style sunglasses.
Getting Goals: In just eight games in 2010, UCF has outscored its opponents by a 12-goal margin (18-6). The Knights are fifth in the conference with the 18 goals scored this season, but are on pace to surpass their total of 25 from last season.
Not Leading the League...: UCF is not ranked among the top statistical teams in the C-USA in any major offensive category this season. The Knights are fourth in the league in goals per game (2.25) and assists (18) and fifth in points (6.62) and goals (18), but rank second in C-USA in assists per game (2.12).
...But Leading the League: Despite the statistical anomalies, UCF is atop the conference standings. The Knights' 2-0 mark is good for six points and the top spot in C-USA. Marshall also has six points, but is 2-1 with its lone conference loss coming at the hands of the Knights. Cameron Cooksey's overtime goal against the Thundering Herd last weekend lifted UCF to the 2-1 win and the tiebreaker with Marshall.
Help Me Out: The Knights have recorded 17 assists on their 18 goals in 2010. Eight different players have dished out assists this season, and sophomore Nik Robson and junior Spencer Scott both lead the team with four assists apiece. Team Leader: Robson leads the Knights in all offensive categories and ranks amongst the nation's top offensive players. The sophomore from Auckland, New Zealand has posted seven goals, four assists and 18 total points. Robson's goal against SMU was his third in as many games, netting goals at Marshall and Army.
Big Win: UCF earned its first win over a top-10 team in program history as the Knights took a 2-1 victory over No. 5 SMU. The win was also the first against SMU for the Knights, who were 0-3-2 all time against the Mustangs entering the Saturday's game.