ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF senior Matias Pyysalo was recognized as the American Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday in a vote conducted by the league's coaches.
The Knights received 29 votes to earn the fourth position in the preseason coaches' poll, edging SMU (29) to finish in the top half of the eight-team league. UConn (45), Tulsa (43) and USF (34) rounded out the top three of the poll.
Pyysalo, who also earned a nod on the preseason all-conference team, tallied six of his 10 goals in league play. The 2016 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year paced the conference with 14 points and delivered game-winning goals against SMU (10/1), UConn (10/22) and Cincinnati (11/5).
The Helsinki, Finland, native ranked among the national leaders in goals (15th/0.63) and points (16th/1.56) per game. Pyysalo also earned a pair of player of the week nods from the league.
Entering his senior campaign, Pyysalo has totaled 18 goals and 14 assists during his career as a Knight. He has also notched seven game-winning markers.
UCF opened its first preseason under the guidance of head coach Scott Calabrese on Aug. 9. The Knights play their first of two exhibition matches tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The Calabrese era begins at Duke on Aug. 25.The first home match is schedule for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against Charlotte.
A NEW ERA
The UCF men's soccer team is set to begin its first campaign under the guidance of head coach Scott Calabrese and will welcome seven teams to the UCF Soccer Complex. Click here or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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2017 American Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. UConn 45 (4)
2. Tulsa 43 (1)
3. USF 34 (2)
4. UCF 29
5. SMU 27 (1)
6. Temple 20
7. Cincinnati 18
8. Memphis 8
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Matias Pyysalo, UCF
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Michael Nelson, SMU*
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK – Michael Nelson, SMU*
B – Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati*
B – Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn
B – Dylan Greenberg, UConn
B – Jordan Cano, SMU
B – Zack Stavrou, Tulsa
M – Matias Pyysalo, UCF
M – Jackson Morse, Memphis
M – Ricardo Gomez, USF
M – Mauro Cichero, SMU*
F – Abdou Mbacke Thiam, UConn*
F – Garrett McLaughlin, SMU
F – Joonas Jokinen, Temple
F – Juan Sanchez, Tulsa*
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken
