ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF seniors Diego Bacellar, Javier Clavijo and Phil Hicks are set to play their final home match on Saturday at noon against Cincinnati. The Knights need a victory and some help from their conference foes to secure a slot in The American Championship from Nov. 11-13 in Tampa.
UCF Knights (4-10-0, 2-4-0) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (9-6-1, 3-3-0)
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 | Noon
Orlando, Fla. | UCF Soccer Complex
Video ($) | Live Stats | @UCF_MSoccer | Game Notes
Noting the Knights
- The Knights will honor its seniors Diego Bacellar, Javier Clavijo and Phil Hicks prior to facing the Bearcats.
- Heading into the final match of the regular season, a UCF win and some help will provide it with a top-four finish in the league and a spot in The American Championship on Nov. 11 in Tampa, Fla.
- UCF fell in a hard-fought overtime match, 1-0, at Temple. The lone goal of the contest came in the 94th minute.
- Junior Matias Pyysalo earned his second career AAC Offensive Player of the Week accolade on Oct. 24 after netting an overtime marker to lift UCF to a 2-1 victory vs. No. 24 UConn.
- Pyysalo now has a career-high nine goals on the season. The Helsinki, Finland, native has found the score sheet in seven-straight, accumulating 15 points (6 G, 3 A), before UCF was shutout at FIU. He ranks ninth nationally in points per game (1.77).
- The first career goal by freshman Brian Jamba that was a beautifully struck ball from 30-yards out that landed in the upper 90 to provide UCF with a 1-0 lead in the 77th minute vs. UConn.
- The Knights have played in 10 matches decided by one goal, but have only been able to notch three victories.
- Freshman Matt Rosenberg notched back-to-back shutouts against SMU and Northwestern. He has compiled a 1.73 goals-against average.
- Three goals have been tallied by freshman Richard Amon, who is second on the team in points with seven.
- Head coach Bryan Cunningham is in his 10th season at the helm of the Knights.
Last Time Out
- UCF and Temple played 90 scoreless minutes, but the Owls recorded the game-winning goal in the 94th minute.
- Richard Amon hit the post in the 55th minute following a cross by Matias Pyysalo.
- Four saves were made by Matt Rosenberg, who faced 19 shots.
Scouting the Bearcats
- Cincinnati has posted an 9-6-1 overall mark, which includes non-conference wins over Fort Wayne, Cleveland State, Bowling Green, Thomas More, IUPUI and Eastern Illinois.
- The Bearcats have a 3-3-0 record in The American with victories against Memphis, USF and Temple.
- Ryan Melink leads Cincinnati with five goals, while Adam Wilson has accumulated a team-high 18 points (4 goals, 10 assists).
- Goalkeeper Pedro Diaz has compiled a 1.17 goals-against average and notched seven shutouts.
Series History
- UCF holds an unblemished 4-0-0 mark against the Bearcats.
- The Knights are 1-0-0 in matches played in Orlando,while talling a 2-0-0 mark on the road and 1-0-0 at a neutral site.
- Last year, Matias Pyysalo netted the lone goal in the 58th minute to help UCF to a 1-0 win and finish fifth in the final league standings.
The Finnish Finisher
- Matias Pyysalo paces the Knights with 23 points, which includes nine goals and five assists.
- He ranks ninth nationally in points per game (1.77) and 12th in goals per game (0.69).
- Pyysalo provided his first overtime marker to secure his team's 2-1 victory over UConn.
- The Helsinki, Finland, native notched game-winning goals against UConn and SMU and now has six in his career. He had the GWG last year against Grand Canyon, Jacksonville, Stetson and Cincinnati.
- In his career, Pyysalo has registered 18 goals and amassed 46 points at UCF.
- A total of 80 shots have been taken by Pyysalo in three seasons.
Up Next
- With a victory and some help, UCF looks to advance to The American Championship from Nov. 11-13 in Tampa, Fla.