#12 Missouri State vs. #8 UCF NCAA Tournament - Round of 32 WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS |
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 8 UCF men's soccer team is set for their second round matchup in the NCAA Tournament as they host the No. 12 Missouri State Bears on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Earning a bye in the first round, the No. 9 nationally seeded Knights awaited the winner of the Missouri State and Denver first round matchup on Thursday which saw the Bears take a 1-0 victory on a 46-degree, rainy evening.
Overall, UCF has made the NCAA Tournament seven times in the program's history. They reached the tournament from 2002-2004, then again in 2010-2011. The Knights returned to the tournament in 2018, making this season the third time that the Knights have been to the NCAA Tournament in back to back seasons. Last year, UCF earned the No. 14 national seed and ended up being edged by Lipscomb in a 1-0 overtime tilt.
THE OPPONENT
Missouri State has technically not lost a match this season, coming in with a record of 18-0-1. The Bears were perfect until they went to penalty kicks against Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament final. The score was 1-1 after regulation, but Missouri State would fall 5-4 in penalty kicks.
Matthew Bently leads the team in scoring with 32 points and 14 goals. Just behind is Josh Dolling with 19 points, creating a dynamic duo up front for the Bears. Michael Creek tends the net for Missouri State. He's allowed just 11 goals this season with a .780 save percentage.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
UCF is looking to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Knights seek to use home field as an extra advantage in the second round. Including this year's match, the Black and Gold will have hosted at least one match in their last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Knights' last match saw 1,237 fans pack the stands, a record attendance for a UCF men's soccer match. Coming off a loss to SMU on their home turf in the American Athletic Conference championship match, the Knights are poised to protect The Kingdom and punch that first Sweet 16 ticket on Sunday.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Knights have compiled their highest win total in their Division I era, collecting 14 victories. That mark is second to only the 15-1-1 record the team posted in their second season of existence in 1976.
Missouri State's offense has posted similar numbers to UCF. They have scored 2.28 goals per game while the Knights have registered 2.33, placing them seventh in the country. The Black and Gold are also seventh in the country in assists and points per game. UCF averages 16.22 shot attempts per match, good enough for ninth in the nation. The Knights still lead all teams in corner kicks, ranking first with an 8.28 clip.
Sunday night's match will be the first time these two teams meet on the soccer pitch.
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