Outing with the OwlsOuting with the Owls

Outing with the Owls

Opens in a new window Game Notes

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF is on a four-match unbeaten streak and returns home on Tuesday to face Florida Atlantic. The match is set to start at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.

Admission to the match is $5 for general admission, while students are always free to home contests.

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS

  • The Knights (4-5-2) are on a four-match unbeaten streak after earning victories against No. 22 UConn (3-2), Tulsa (3-0) and Stetson and notching a 1-1 (2OT) draw vs. Memphis.
  • The second five-point match of the year for Cal Jennnings, the reigning American Offensive Player of the week, helped UCF post a 3-2 win at No. 22 UConn.
  • UCF used three second-half goals, including two by The American Offensive Player of the Week, Matias Pyysalo, to power past Tulsa, 3-0, on Oct. 15. 
  • Sophomore Matthew Rosenberg notched his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career by making two saves vs. Tulsa.
  • Pyysalo ranks among the nation's leaders in points (4th/2.10), goals (6th/0.80) and assists (27th/0.50) per game.
  • The Knights have notched a shutout in three of thier four victories this season.
  • 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 opening the campaign with seven matches on the road.
  • 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 OWLS

  • FAU (1-12-0) has played a challenging slate and notched its only victory at South Carolina (2-1).
  • The leading scorer is Carlos Sanchis with five goals, while Felix Halle Smith has contributed two markers.
  • The Owls have used a trio of goalkeepers that have combined for a 2.76 goals-against average and a .585 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY VS. FAU

  • The Knights posted thier first win over UConn, 2-1, last year with a golden goal in 2OT by Matias Pyysalo.
  • The Huskies lead the all-time series with a 7-1-1 record, but the past three meetings have been decided by one goal.
  • A 2-2 2OT was registered by the Knights in the first league game back in 2013. 


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.
  • Pyysalo ranks among the nations leaders in points (4th, 2.10), goals (6th, 0.80) and assists (27th, 0.50) per game.
  • 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 27 goals and 20 assists in his career as a Knight. The 27 goals puts him in a tie for seventh on the all-time charts with Remi Hariz (1998-01). Sixth on the list is Nik Robson (2009-11) with 28 goals, then fifth is Mark Lamb (1984-87) with 29.

STEPPING UP

  • The first five matches for the Knights were tough with all four of thier goals being scored in a 4-0 win at Jacksonville.
  • The start of conference play sparked the Knights in a pair of hard-fought road defeats to USF (3-2 2OT) and SMU (2-1)
  • UCF held leads in both matches, but were unable to finish off their opponents.
  • Back home, UCF posted a 4-0 victory over Memphis to boost its confidence, then played a 1-1 2OT draw vs. Memphis.
  • An all-around effort aided UCF to a 3-0 victory against physical Tulsa squad.
  • Cal Jennings quited a capacity crowd at No. 22 UConn with a goal in the third minute, then tallied the game-winner to propell UCF to a 3-2 win
  • The Knights have scored 11 goals in the five-game stretch and found depth scoring from Cal Jennings (5), Matias Pyysalo (4), Ricardo Oliveros (1) and Andreas Steineger (1)

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

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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