Aug. 17, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Thanks to a late rally that included two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match, the UCF men's soccer team tied Mercer, 2-2, in exhibition action Friday at the UCF Soccer Complex. Deshorn Brown scored in the 81st minute and then recorded an assist on McKauly Tulloch's tying score in the 84th minute for the Knights.
Brown might have been heading to the net for the game-winning goal in the final seconds, but he was unable to get off a shot before the final horn. The contest featured an hour and a half lightning delay and overtime was not played.
Brown scored off of a corner kick from Eduardo Jimenez, and minutes later, found Tulloch for a give-and-go inside the box that allowed the Knights to tie the score.
The Bears were solid before the delay, which came just before the end of the first half, as they scored in the 27th minute when Richie Edmondson beat Sebastian Evers for the goal. Mercer added another goal 15 minutes into the second half, but UCF refused to go away.
"I give my guys a lot of credit," UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "To go down by two goals and to come back in the final 10 minutes and to have a chance to win it (at the end), I can't complain. I was impressed with their attitude and desire in the second half. As a coach what you like to see is improvement. We grew up in the second half and we can build from this."
The exhibition was the second of three scrimmages in six days for the Knights. UCF will conclude the exhibition portion of its schedule Sunday against visiting Florida Tech. The contest at the UCF Soccer Complex will start at 2 p.m. and admission is free.
UCF finished with a 24-8 shot advantage and had six corner kicks compared to one for Mercer. Mercer goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh registered 10 saves.
Before the late goals, UCF's best scoring chance on the day came with 20 minutes to play when A.J. Nelson headed the ball toward the net off a Jimenez corner, but Ranjitsingh leaped to make the save.
Season tickets, which include a savings off of the single-game ticket price, are $30 and include a commemorative UCF soccer scarf. Season tickets are currently available by visiting UCFAthletics.com or by calling (407) UCF-1000. The Gold Pass, which includes season tickets to all volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball and track and field contests, is also available now.