Oct. 27, 2013
Final Stats
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jennifer Clark
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to seven after playing Temple to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon at UCF Soccer Complex. The Knights, who have not seen a loss since late September, moved to 6-4-5 overall and 3-1-3 in the American Athletic Conference, while Temple is now 9-3-4 (2-1-4, American).
In the end we didn't have our best today, said Knights coach Bryan Cunningham. To go down two goals is hard against any team, let alone a very good Temple team. For the guys to battle back and score two goals to tie is big. At the end of the day we'll just be happy that we got out of here with a tie being down two goals.
UCF controlled the pace early in the game to hold Temple to a scoreless first half, but both teams managed to find an offensive rhythm early in the second half and string together multiple scoring opportunities as the Knights battled their way back from a 2-0 deficit.
The Owls struck first in the early minutes of the second when senior midfielder Vaughn Spurrier scored in the 49th minute to put Temple ahead, 1-0. TU increased its lead only minutes later when redshirt-junior Chas Wilson collected a pass from sophomore Jared Martinelli in the 55th minute and fired a shot that bounced off the post and found the back of the net putting the Owls up 2-0.
UCF quickly responded in the 56th minute, when senior Omar Vallejo collected a pass from freshman Fernando Laverde and fired to the back of the net from 20 yards out to bring the Knights within one (2-1).
Both teams would trade shots through the remainder of the second half until Knights sophomore Romario Williams' successful penalty kick in the 82nd minute tied the game at 2-2 following a foul from Temple's Robert Sagle.
The Owls' Spurrier nearly finalized a win for Temple as he fired a shot in the 98th minute that was saved by UCF goalkeeper Sebastian Evers. The Knights came equally as close in the second overtime when Williams' shot in the 106th minute of play narrowly missed its way into the net as Temple keeper Dan Scheck blocked the final attempt.
Neither team was able to convert a shot, ending the match in a draw.
UCF will return to action on Nov. 2 when it hosts Rutgers in the Knights' final regular-season match.
Notes: Knights goalkeeper Evers tallied four saves for UCF, while Owls' keeper Scheck racked up five. Vallejo tallied his fifth goal of the season, while Williams notched goal number eight. Temple held an 8-2 corner kick advantage.