ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF extended its unbeaten streak to five matches on Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory over Florida Atlantic. Two goals by sophomore Cal Jennings and senior Matias Pyysalo in a 33-second span during the 14th minute sparked the Knights offense at the UCF Soccer Complex.
"We started the game really strongly and possessed the ball," head coach Scott Calabrese said. "We moved it quickly and created some good chances especially early on. After a big win at UConn, I think we came in with our feet on the ground and especially in that first half put in a really good performance."
The Knights moved to 5-5-2 on the season and have posted a 4-0-1 mark in their past five matches.
TWO QUICK ONES
- A cross by senior Joel Vartiainen into the six-yard box from the right win found Jennings, who buried a shot into the top of the next from in tight during the 14th minute.
- The reigning American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week has tallied six goals on the campaign - all in the past five matches.
- Just 33 second later, Jennings hooked up with Pyysalo at the top of the box.
- The powerful strike from the Helsinki, Finland, native beat the keeper to the far post.
- The marker was the 10th of the campaign for Pyysalo, who has hit double-digit goals in each of the last two seasons.
"It's a nice little accolade [player of the week] but I have to keep humble and keep working for my team. It's always nice to get on the score sheet, but really my teammates set me up really nicely and I thank God every day for that."
-F Cal Jennings
"It's definitely a good thing to follow a goal with another one. It provides us with a good start to the game. We get more confident with the ball and can move the opponent, which causes more spaces to open up."
-F Matias Pyysalo
"Strikers (like Cal) need goals. When he started to score goals, he really started to believe and become more aggressive. The results speak for themselves."
-Head coach Scott Calabrese
A SOROKIN ROCKET
- Freshman Yoni Sorokin's strike from 25-yards out was a rocket that ricocheted off the bottom of the cross bar and into the net.
- The second career goal for Sorokin was assisted by sophomore Jesus Colombo, who found him from the far wing.
"Yoni can settle us down, so when things get crazy, he is so calm that he can help us play out of these really difficult moments in a game. He really is able to connect us from the back to the front."
-Head Coach Scott Calabrese
WORKING A CLEAN SHEET
- The Knights put together their fifth clean sheet of the campaign.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Matthew Rosenberg made two stops to earn his third shutout of the season and move to 3-1-1 on the year.
- It was a complete team effort as 17 players earned playing time.
- The first appearance of the season was also made by junior C.J. Campbell.
"Overall, the group has grown in confidence, but they also have developed an understanding of each other. Early on in the season, when you have so many new players and everyone is learning about each other things are a little disjointed. Now as the season has progressed, this confidence has grown in the group"
-Head Coach Scott Calabrese
NEXT UP
- The Knights host Temple on Saturday at 2 p.m. UCF will honor its four seniors – Walker Dawkins, Matias Pyysalo, Neico Regent and Joel Vartiainen – prior to the contest.
- The match vs. the Owls will broadcast on The American Digital Network.
- UCF rounds out its league slate on Nov. 4 with a trip to Cincinnati.
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