ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After having its Sept. 12 match called off due to Hurricane Irma, the Knights are back in action on Tuesday with a road outing at FGCU. The match is set to start at 7 p.m. at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
Fans can follow the action from Ft. Myers, Fla., with streaming video and live stats.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
- The Knights are coming off a 0-0 2OT draw at No. 14 West Virginia where sophomore Matthew Rosenberg and freshman Yannik Oettl combined to make three saves.
- The draw against a ranked foe was the first since UCF earned a result at No. 24 UConn (10/5/13) following a 2-2 2OT draw.
- Junior Jonathan Dean was named The American Defensive Player of the Week after helping the back line to consecutive road shutouts at WVU and Jacksonville.
- UCF used a hat trick from senior Matias Pyysalo to post a 4-0 victory at Jacksonville on Sept. 4.
- Oettl made four stops to record his first-career shutout at Jacksonville.
- With three goals and six points, Pyysalo paces the UCF attack. He has totaled 12 shots, including seven that have been on target.
- Freshman Yoni Sorokin has also notched a goal and three assists.
- A total of 15 saves and a 0.80 goals-against average has been compiled by Oettl.
- The Knights had home matches canceled against No. 16 Charlotte (9/1 - inclement weather) and FIU (9/12 – Hurricane Irma).
ABOUT THE EAGLES
- FGCU has posted a 1-3-1 overall mark with a victory over Vermont (4-0) and draw vs. Loyola Marymount (2-2 2OT).
- Dennis Zapata is the leading scorer with two goals and three assists, while a pair of markers each have been registered by Robert Ferrer and Preston Kilwien.
- Goalkeeper Connor Gavigan has compiled a 1.66 goals-against average and .720 save pct.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE EAGLES
- The teams have met five times with the Eagles holding a 2-1-2 edge.
- The Knights are 1-2-0 at home, with a 1-0 2OT triumph in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
- Both draws have been registered in contests played in Ft. Myers.
- UCF fell 3-1 last year against FGCU in Orlando with Jesus Colombo finding the back of the net in the 74th minute.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Knights played the final 42 minutes of their 2-2 2OT draw at No. 14 West Virginia down a man.
- UCF tallied a 4-2 advantage in shots and a 4-0 lead in corners during the first half.
- Freshman Yannik Oettl made one stop before receiving a pair of cautions.
- Two saves were made by sophomore Matthew Rosenberg to preserve the clean sheet.
HATS OFF FOR MATIAS
- The trio of goals for Pyysalo came in the 30th, 54th and 67th minutes at Jacksonville. He tallied eight shots including six on target during 90 minutes of action.
- His first goal came on a feed by Sorokin, who finished with three points in the match.
- The American Preseason Offensive Player of the Year collected his own rebound in the 54th minute to extend the UCF lead to 3-0.
- A pretty feed from junior Max Stiegwardt led to the third tally by the Helsinki, Finland, native.
- It was the first hat trick recorded by a Knight since Deshorn Brown (currently with DC United) accomplished the feat vs. Memphis (10/24/12)
CALLING ON CALABRESE
- Head coach Scott Calabrese is in his first season guiding the Knights and picked up his first win at Jacksonville (9/4).
- He spent the past three seasons at FIU, taking the program to its first NCAA Tournament in 10 years.
- The Newton, Conn., native has compiled an 85-67-20 overall mark and started the program at East Tennessee State in 2008.
- Calabrese has an experienced staff in Will Clayton, who played and coached at Wake Forest, and Paul Souders, who played for Calabrese at Clemson and coached at New Mexico.
NEXT UP
- The Knights begin play in The American with a 7 p.m. tilt at USF in the War on I-4 rivalry series.
- After traveling to SMU on Sept. 29, UCF opens its home slate on Oct. 7 against Memphis at 7 p.m.
A NEW ERA
The UCF men's soccer team is in 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.
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