ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF concludes its three-match homestand on Sunday against Tulsa. The first touch of the American Athletic Conference match is set for noon at the UCF Soccer Complex.
Admission to the event is $5 for general admission, while students are always free to home contests.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
- The Knights (2-5-2) earned a 1-1 2OT draw against Memphis in their last match. A beautiful cross was play by freshman Hattabiou Barry to senior Andreas Steineger, who headed home an equalizing goal in the 17th minute.
- UCF was the 204th out of 205 schools that play men's soccer to appear in a home match. UCF won its home opener, 4-0, vs. Stetson on Oct. 4 after starting the campaign with seven matches on the road.
- Depth scoring was found against the Hatters with sophomore Cal Jennings netting a brace and junior Ricardo Oliveros tallying his first goal.
- With six goals and 16 points, senior Matias Pyysalo paces the UCF attack. He has totaled 21 shots, including 12 that have been on target.
- A total of 24 saves and a 1.35 goals-against average has been compiled by freshman Yannik Oettl, who has two shutouts on the year.
- In both of its victories, UCF has registered four goals at Jacksonville (9/4) and at Stetson (10/4)
- The draw against No. 14 West Virginia was the first result earned by UCF vs. a Top 25 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.
ABOUT THE HURRICANE
- Tulsa (4-5-1) has tallied non-conference victories over Santa Clara (3-2 2OT), No. 1 Stanford (2-0) and Denver along with a draw vs. Wisconsin (2-2 OT)
- The Hurricane posted a 1-0 OT win over No. 19 SMU to start league play, but has dropped consecutive matches at UConn (1-0) and vs. No. 17 USF (3-2).
- A team-high seven points have been accumulated by Rollie Rocha (3 G, 1 A) and Miguel Velasquez (2 G, 3 A).
- Goalkeeper Marcel Da Silva has compiled a 1.38 goals-against average, .756 save pct. and two shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY VS. TULSA
- Tulsa holds a 10-1-3 advantage in the all-time series.
- The Knights earned their lone victory in the series at home in 2011.
- The Golden Hurricanes have an unblemished 6-0-3 mark in Tulsa.
THE FINNISH FINISHER
- Senior Matias Pyysalo was tabbed as The American Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches.
- He tallied a natural hat trick, scoring the final three goals at Jacksonville. It was the first hat trick of his career and the first by a Knight since Deshorn Brown (currently with DC United) accomplished the feat vs. Memphis (10/24/12).
- In the first seven matches, Pyysalo scored five of the seven goals by the Knights.
- The Helsinki, Finland, native tallied six of his 10 goals in conference play in 2016.
- The 2016 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year paced the league with 14 points and delivered game-winning goals vs. SMU (10/1), UConn (10/22) and Cincinnati (11/5).
- He has totaled 24 goals and 19 assists in his career as a Knight. The 24 goals moves him into eighth third all-time, passing Amo Nurmisto (1996-99), Paul Nuzum (1976-79) and Christian Rognaldsen (1987-90). Next on the chart is Remi Hariz (1998-01) with 27 goals from 1998-01.
CALLING ON CALABRESE
- Head coach Scott Calabrese is in his first season guiding the Knights.
- 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 Knight conclude a three-match home stretch on Sunday at noon against Tulsa.
- UCF is back on the road Oct. 20 with a contest at UConn.
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 five 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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