ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF continues a six-match homestand on Saturday with a noon kickoff against Jacksonville. Admission to the contest at the UCF Soccer Complex is free.
Due to the match occurring on a football game day, fans attending the contest must park in the blue or red zones located on the map to the right.
Jacksonville head coach Mauricio Ruiz, who spent six seasons on head coach Bryan Cunningham's staff, makes his first trip back to Orlando for a regular season match. Ruiz worked his way from a volunteer assistant in 2008 to an associate head coach in 2012 with the Knights. He was named the Dolphins' head coach in February 2014.
"Obviously, I am so proud of Mauricio," coach Cunningham said. "He did really well for us here. Now, he has his own team and is applying his trade, which is what you want from your understudies. It will be tough. He was in our program and knows what we do. We are going to have to be sharp."
UCF (0-3-0) vs. Jacksonville (3-2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 | Noon
Orlando, Fla. | UCF Soccer Complex
UCFKnights.TV | Live Stats | @UCF_MSoccer
Noting the Knights
- Freshman Jesus Colombo netted his first goal as a Knight in the 74th minute against Florida Gulf Coast.
- UCF played in front of a packed Knights Watch supporters section, but was unable to prevail against FGCU.
- Freshman Richard Amon paces UCF offensively with two goals and one assist through the first three matches.
- The top returner for UCF, junior Matias Pyysalo, scored his first goal of the season at South Carolina after notching six goals and eight assists in 2015.
- Seven newcomers - Brian Jamba, Nathan Bondswell, Jesus Colombo, Richard Amon, Jonathan Dean, Cal Jennings and Matt Rosenberg - have started multiple matches, while Anton Delwer and Diego Bacellar have also made their UCF debuts as reserves.
- Freshman Matt Rosenberg has faced 23 shots in the past two matches, while sophomore Brendan Rennie was the Knights' goalkeeper at Grand Canyon.
- Coach Cunningham is in his 10th season at the helm of the Knights.
Last Time Out
- The Knights dropped a 3-1 decision in their home opener to Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 14.
- UCF held a decisive 4-1 advantage in shots on goal in the first half, but the Eagles tallied the lone marker six minutes before halftime.
- FGCU added goals in the 57th and 63rd minutes to take a 3-0 advantage.
- Colombo scored for the Knights in the 74th minute on a throughball played by Amon.
- The Knights held advantages in shots (13-to-12) and shots on goal (7-to-3), while both teams took four corners.
Scouting the Dolphins
- Jacksonville head coach Mauricio Ruiz spent six seasons (2008-13) on coach Cunningham's staff and worked his way from a volunteer assistant all the way to associate head coach. He was tabbed to lead the Dolphins in February 2014.
- Jacksonville enters the match with a 3-3-0 mark and victories over UNC Asheville, Georgia Southern and USF.
- The Dolphins took down the Knights' conference rival South Florida, 2-0, on the road with a pair of second half goals.
- Kai Bennett paces the squad with four goals and one assist, totaling nine points.
- Goalkeeper Patrick Harding has tallied a 2-3-0 record with a 1.60 goals-against average.
Series History
- UCF leads the all-time series with a 19-13-4 mark.
- The Knights took last year's meeting at Jacksonville, 3-2, on goals by Hadji Barry, Neico Regent and Matias Pyysalo.
- UCF holds an unbeaten streak against the Dolphins in the last eight matches, going 6-0-2 dating back to the 2002 campaign.
Up Next
- The Knights continue their six-match homestand on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. meeting against North Florida in the final tune up before play in The American begins.
- UCF also welcomes conference foes South Florida and SMU, along with Northwestern, during this home stretch.