ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF was unable to mount a second-half comeback after conceding a goal just prior to the halftime horn in a 2-0 defeat Friday at Duke in the John Rennie Nike Invitational. The contest at Koskinen Stadium was played in front of a crowd of 1725 and marked the start of the Scott Calabrese era at UCF.
After UCF (0-1) freshman goalkeeper Yannik Oettl made six second-half saves to keep the deficit 1-0, the Blue Devils (1-0) put the game away in the 83rd minute when a header by Markus Fjortoft found the back of the net. The marker was setup by a header from Matthias Frick and cross by Daniel Wright.
AT THE BREAK
- After an evenly played first 44 minutes, Duke found the go-ahead goal on a counter attack with 35 seconds left on the clock. Ciaran McKenna scored following a cross into the box by Suniel Veerakone.
- The Knights held their share of possession and matched the Blue Devils with two shots on target.
- Duke held a 6-to-4 edge in shots, but UCF had a couple quality opportunities, including a pair of strikes by senior Matias Pyysalo.
MAKING THEIR DEBUT
- The Knights' Starting XI featured five newcomers - junior Ricardo Oliveros, freshmen Hattabiou Barry, Louis Perez, Yoni Sorokin and Yannik Oettl.
- Juniors Max Stiegwardt and Noah Murphy also made their first appearances at UCF as reserves.
KNIGHTS NOTES
- Pyysalo paced the Knights with two shots, which included one on target.
- Along with Pyysalo, junior Gorka Aperribay, Barry and Sorokin each tallied one shot on goal.
- Oettl finished the contest by making eight saves.
NEXT UP
- The Knights conclude the John Rennie Nike Invitational on Sunday with a noon start vs. Elon. The contest can be viewed on WatchESPN via ACC Network Extra,
- The home opener on International Soccer Knight is set for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. vs. 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.
BECOME A PART OF THE WATCH
Membership to Knights Watch, the official supporters group of UCF Soccer, begins at $15 for students and $50 for fans. Packages include tickets to all home contests for men's and women's soccer, a Knights Watch T-Shirt, a soccer scarf and a variety of free catered tailgates. To become a member, click here.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.