ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – A stretch of seven-consecutive matches away from home concludes for UCF on Friday at SMU. The Knights' second conference match of the season begins at 8:30 p.m. ET at Westcott Field.
Fans that are unable to make the trip to Dallas, Texas, can follow the action with free streaming video and live stats.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
- UCF (1-4-1) held 1-0 and 2-1 leads on goals by junior Gorka Aperribay and senior Matias Pyysalo in a tough 3-2 2OT loss at USF in the War On I-4 Rivalry Series to open conference play.
- The Knights had a streak of 334 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal snapped in the 80th minute of a 1-0 loss to FGCU.
- With four goals and nine points, senior Matias Pyysalo paces the UCF attack. He has totaled 17 shots, including nine that have been on target.
- Junior Gorka Aperribay and freshman Yoni Sorokin have also added goals.
- A total of 21 saves and a 1.22 goals-against average has been compiled by freshman Yannik Oettl, who has two shutouts on the year.
- The draw against No. 14 West Virginia was the first result earned by since UCF since a 2-2 2OT draw at No. 24 UConn (10/5/13).
- Junior Jonathan Dean was named The American Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 11 after helping the back line to consecutive road shutouts at WVU and Jacksonville.
- UCF used a hat trick from Pyysalo to post a 4-0 victory at Jacksonville on Sept. 4.
- The Knights first home match will be Wednesday vs. Stetson after contests were canceled against No. 16 Charlotte (9/1 - inclement weather) and FIU (9/12 - Hurricane Irma).
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
- SMU (6-2-0) has notched victories over UC Davis (3-2), Oakland (2-1), Cornell (3-0), Santa Clara, Loyola (4-0) and Brown (1-0).
- The Mustangs most recently dropped an OT decision at Tulsa (1-0), while their only other loss came at then-No. 1 Stanford (3-1).
- Five goals each have been registered by Mauro Cichero and Garrett McLaughlin, while a team-high 14 points has been tallied by Cichero.
- Goalkeeper Michael Nelson has tallied four shutouts and compiled a 0.87 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SMU
- SMU holds a 5-4-4 mark in the all-time series. All 12 meetings have occurred with both teams being members of either The American or Conference USA.
- Last year, senior Matias Pyysalo delivered the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute to top SMU, 1-0. The first career shutout was also notched by Matthew Rosenburg.
- The Knights are 3-1-2 against the Mustangs in Orlando, but just 1-4-2 in meetings in Dallas.
- The first three of wins for UCF in the series came in consecutive matches from 2010-12.
SHUTOUT STREAK SNAPPED
- A 344 minute shutout streak for the Knights back line ended in the 80th minute of a 1-0 loss at FGCU.
- The Knights defense ad not conceded a goal dating back to their match vs. Elon (8/27).
- During that stretch, UCF secured results at Jacksonville (4-0) and at No. 14 West Virginia (0-0 2OT).
- Goalkeepers Yannik Oettle and Matthew Rosenberg led the UCF back line - Andreas Steineger, Francios Dulysse, Jonathan Dean and Zachary Waitman - during the four matches
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 return to Orlando for their home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Stetson.
- UCF continues a three-game homestand on Oct. 7 against Memphis.
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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