ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After more than two weeks of training and a pair of exhibition matches, UCF hits the road Friday to open the regular season at Grand Canyon. The first match at the new 5,000-seat GCU Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz., is set for 10 p.m. ET.
"We open the season with three games on the road, but there is a week between each to help in our preparation," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "Heading out to Phoenix to play against a great team and help open up a six million-dollar facility is just another test for our group. At the end of the day, we don't want to get too high or low. We want to stay grounded and make sure that our players are doing what is expected of them."
Fans can watch the contest that is being broadcasted by CW6 in Arizona for free on Youtube. The stream starts at 9:30 p.m. ET with a prematch show.
Last Year vs. the Lopes
- In the squad's first-ever meeting, UCF posted a 2-1 victory over Grand Canyon at home in the fifth game of the regular season.
- The Knights broke through in the 35th minute on a free kick from 30-yards out, struck by Jakov Basic.
- Just after halftime, Hadji Barry, who is now with Orlando City, delivered a cross from the right to Matias Pyysalo, who beat the keeper.
- The Lopes made the score 2-1 on an Alberto Garcia Sanchez chip shot in the 69th minute.
- UCF goalkeeper Zach Biggs made three saves, while the Knights held a 10-9 advantage in shots and 7-1 lead in corners.
Top Returners
- The Knights are returning six starters and 12 letterwinners from the 2015 season.
- Junior midfielder Matias Pyysalo is the top returning scorer with six goals (4 GWG) and eight assists.
- Junior midfielder Walker Dawkins netted two goals and one assist along with sophomore striker Gorka Aperribay last season.
- Starting the final seven matches was sophomore goalkeeper Brendan Rennie, who posted a 3-3-1 mark with two shutouts and 24 saves.
- Neico Regent and Matias Pyysalo were the only returners to start both exhibition matches as the coaches explored potential lineups.
New Faces
- UCF added 10 newcomers to its roster, including eight freshmen and two transfers, a sophomore and senior.
- The group includes six players that hail from international hometowns.
- Diego Bacellar, a senior transfer, was a part of Creighton's 2015 NCAA Elite Eight run and played in four matches for the Blue Jays. He was also a teammate of former Knight Hadji Barry at Monroe Community College.
- An All-Southern Conference Freshman Team member, sophomore Jonathan Dean started 13 matches and totaled one goal and five assists.
- Brian Jamba, Nathan Bondswell, Jesus Colombo, Jonathan Dean and Cal Jennings all started in both exhibition matches for the Knights.
- Jennings and Colombo each registered a goal and assist in the exhibition contest against the Mocs.
- Goalkeeper Matt Rosenberg started the Florida Southern exhibition match and made one save in a shutout.
Recapping the 2015 Season
- The Knights posted a 7-8-2 overall mark and finished fifth in The American with a 3-4-1 record. UCF closed the regular season with back-to-back shutouts.
- UCF fell 4-2 in penalty kicks at Tulsa in a quarterfinal match at The American Championship. Barry scored a pair goals to give the Knights leads of 1-0 and 2-1.
- The Knights' young successful back four towards the end of the campaign included Joel Vartiainen, Jakov Basic, Andreas Steineger and Zachary Waitman.
- Wins for the Knights were notched against Florida Atlantic, Grand Canyon, FIU, Temple, Tulsa, Stetson, Memphis and Cincinnati.
Up Next
- The Knights continue a three-game road trip to start the season at Charlotte (9/2) and Mercer (9/11).
- UCF welcomes Florida Gulf Coast for its home opener on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Knights Watch
- Knights Watch, the official supporter's group of UCF soccer, debuted during the 2015 campaign as fans, alumni and students came together.
- Membership packages include a T-shirt, soccer scarf, season tickets and several catered tailgates.
- Student can join the group for $15, while fans and alumni can become members for $50.