March 6, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Three matches into his squad's spring season, UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham is pleased the Knights are improving each and every day. Following a successful 2011 campaign, UCF players are working hard to ensure that the program remains among the nation's elite.
The Knights clearly are not resting on laurels after the team spent much of the fall ranked in the top-25 nationally, moving to as high as No. 6, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship for the second-straight year.
"The players have been into what is going on and working hard to get better in every aspect," Cunningham said of UCF's performance this spring. "Playing wise, we want to keep getting better as a team. We are making sure that we are working as a cohesive group attacking, defensively and in transition. To this date, we have been great."
In additional to countless hours in the weight room and on the practice field, the Knights have faced some tough competition this spring. UCF met a pair of MLS squads for exhibition contests, and also faced a talented Division II program in St. Leo.
The tests were immediate for the Knights as they opened the slate against the Philadelphia Union in nearby Deltona. The Union used a new 11 each half against the Knights and despite a 5-0 loss, the game served as a good learning experience. Cunningham was pleased with how his team moved the ball against the MLS squad, but wanted to see the Knights finish some of their chances.
A week later at Dinsey's Wide World of Sports, UCF showed great improvement during a 3-3 tie with Toronto FC. UCF made the most of its opportunities and also was solid defensively against the MLS team. Cunningham has no regrets about the challenging schedule that he created for his team this spring.
"It is great playing those teams. It is a good indicator for where we are at speed of play wise. Defensively, it shows what you need to improve upon. If you are out of position by the slightest margin, they will make you pay. We learned that. The slightest miscalculation will cost you a goal. Those margins of error are things that we can keep correcting. As we are trying to make this team better, and keep the program among the nation's elite, we need to perform at that high level all the time."
Last week, UCF defeated visiting St. Leo, 3-1. Cunningham called the performance, "a very solid game."
The Knights have three contests left this spring, including matchups with a pair of in-state professional teams - the Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 21 in Tampa and March 25 on campus against Orlando City. UCF also hosts D-II program Tampa on April 13.
As he looks ahead to the rest of the spring, Cunningham expects UCF's large senior class to continue leading the way for the Knights. The veterans, who are entering their fourth year in the program, are doing their all to make sure that UCF remains a program on the rise.
"They are committed," Cunningham said about the seniors. "They believe and the team believes that this is one of our best teams that we have fielded here. Even though we have done really well these past few years, we have gotten stronger and better. It is a great group and they want to keep carrying the weight of being a top 25 program and inching toward a conference championship and a national championship, and I applaud their efforts. They have been tremendous to work with this spring."