May 15, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Every member of the UCF men's soccer team is working hard this summer in preparation for the 2012 campaign. Several Knights are taking summer classes and working out in groups on campus.
Other members of the squad have returned home, but are staying active by putting in countless hours in the gym. And other Knights are spending the summer playing competitively.
Shawn Doyle is playing for IMG Bradenton in the Premier Development League. The senior is one of two goalkeepers on his squad. IMG Bradenton has 16 matches on its schedule, which concludes in July. In 2011, Doyle appeared in 12 contests for the Knights, posting a 0.83 goals-against-average.
A native of Texas, Leonardo Ayala is in his home state training with the MLS' Houston Dynamo. Ayala is practicing with the team's reserve squad. The defender is a member of the Dynamo Academy. As a freshman at UCF in 2011, Ayala played in 18 matches and was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
Closer to campus, Anton Sealey is training with the Orlando City U23s. The defender joined the UCF program in January after spending two years at North Carolina. The redshirt sophomore will be eligible to compete with the Knights this fall and should benefit from practicing with Orlando City.
Another new Knight, Deshorn Brown, is playing in the PDL for Reading United AC in Pennsylvania. The forward will join the UCF program in August after two years the University of Mobile, where he was a two-time NAIA All-America First Team selection.
The UCF coaching staff encourages its players to remain active during the summer. At the same time, they must make sure they do not overwork themselves during the summer, which could be detrimental during the grueling college campaign.
"There is a fine line between staying in shape and maintaining their fitness and physique, but also making sure that their bodies get rest to prepare for the rigors of preseason and the fall season where we are trying to play as long as we can. We try to help them manage what they are doing," UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham said.
UCF will begin its preseason camp around Aug. 9, and open the 2012 season later that month.