ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After opening its home slate on Oct. 4 with an impressive 4-0 victory over Stetson, UCF continues a three-match homestand on Saturday against Memphis. The first touch of the American Athletic Conference contest is slated for 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The first 100 fans through the gates that open at 6 p.m. receive a UCF car flag. Admission to the match is $5 for general admission, while admission for UCF students is always free.
In the 4-0 win over Stetson, junior Cal Jennings scored a brace with two goals in a two-minute span during the first half. Senior Matias Pyysalo also finished with four points - one goal and two assists. A 78th minute strike by junior Ricardo Oliveros sealed the victory for the Knights.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
- The Knights (2-5-1) are seeking their first result in The American after dropping a pair of tough matches at USF (3-2 2OT) and at SMU (2-1).
- 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.
- In both victories this year, UCF has registered four goals at Jacksonville (9/4) and at Stetson (10/4)
- With six goals and 15 points, senior Matias Pyysalo paces the UCF attack. He has totaled 20 shots, including 11 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.
- The Knights had a streak of 334 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal snapped in the 80th minute of a 1-0 loss at FGCU.
- 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 TIGERS
- After starting 0-3-2, Memphis (2-5-2) tallied victories over Missouri State (2-1) and Cincinnati (3-1) before earning a draw at Northern Kentucky and falling vs. Temple (2-1 2OT).
- Ben Roberts paces the Tigers with two goals, while a team-best three assists have been recorded by Burke Fahling.
- Goalkeeper Jake Leeker has started every match, compiling a .735 save percentage and 1.36 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MEMPHIS
- The Knights hold a 9-7-3 mark in the all-time series that dates back to 1992, however 16 of those meetings have come since 2005 when the squads were members of Conference USA and The American.
- Home is sweet for both squads as each holds an unblemished mark on their pitch. UCF is 7-0-1 in Orlando, while the Tigers are 5-0-2 in Memphis.
- UCF notched a 1-0 shutout at home in 2015, while both teams played to a 2-2 draw in Memphis last year.
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 17 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 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 Knight continue a three-match home stretch on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Memphis. The first 100 fans will receive a UCF car flag.
- UCF hosts Tulsa on Oct. 15 with the kick set for noon.
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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