ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF concludes a three-match road trip to open the season on Sunday at Mercer. The contest at Bear Field is set to start at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the action with live stats and in-game updates on Twitter at @UCF_MSoccer.
Noting the Knights
- The Knights are seeking their first victory after dropping road contests at Grand Canyon, 4-2, and South Carolina, 2-1, to start the campaign.
- Freshman Richard Amon paces UCF offensively after tallying two goals in the opening contest with the Lopes.
- 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 - started in one of the first two matches, while Anton Delwer and Diego Bacellar have also made appearances.
- Freshman goalkeeper Matt Rosenberg faced 11 shots in a his first-career start at South Carolina and kept a clean sheet in the first half.
- Head coach Bryan Cunningham is in his 10th season guiding the Knights.
Last Time Out
- After the Knights had a match cancelled at Charlotte on Sept. 2 due to the remnants of Hurricane Hermine, UCF stayed in the Carolinas to face the Gamecocks two days later.
- The Knights held South Carolina scoreless in the first half, but the Gamecocks notched a pair of goals in a five-minute stretch.
- Junior Matias Pyysalo netted his first goal of the season in the 76th minute off a free kick at the top of the box.
- UCF registered a game-high four shots on goal, but the Gamecocks' keeper saved each opportunity.
Scouting the Bears
- Mercer enters the match with a 4-1-0 record, which includes victories over Georgia State, South Carolina, Gardner-Webb and Winthrop.
- The Bears toppled then-No. 24 South Carolina, 3-2, on the road with a goal in the 103rd minute of the second overtime.
- Max Poore paces the squad with two goals and one assist, while Conner Antley has also accumulated five points with a goal and three assists.
- Goalkeeper Jeremy Booth has posted a 3-1-0 mark with seven saves.
Series History
- The Knights hold an 8-5-2 all-time mark against the Bears.
- Despite UCF firing 18 shots last year, Mercer scored twice in the first half in a 2-0 victory.
- The Knights are 3-1-1 in games played in Macon.
- Both teams are former members of the Atlantic Sun. UCF left the league to go to Conference USA in 2005, while Mercer joined the SoCon in 2014.
Up Next
- After three matches on the road, UCF welcomes Florida Gulf Coast for its home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
- The Knights' six-match homestand features conference foes South Florida and SMU.