ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF men's soccer team scored a lot in 2019, 44 times to be exact. A lot of goals came in dramatic fashion, as the Knights tallied seven game winners in overtime. 18 of UCF's goals came from Cal Jennings. However one chooses to break it down, a lot of meaningful goals were scored during the Black and Gold's 15-3-2 campaign. Here are the top 10 goals from the Knights' memorable 2019 season.
10. Breakaway Speed
Capitalizing on an errant pass from a Penn State midfielder, Jennings turned on the jets to corral a loose ball at midfield. Accelerating hard, Jennings blew by the Penn State player and had a breakaway from 30 yards out. Running out of room at the side of the net, Jennings banged the shot off the goalkeeper's hand for his second goal of the match.
9. That's Using Your Head
Off a good chance late in the first half of the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Gino Vivi found a rebound land at his feet. He made the most of the opportunity, crossing the ball to Yoni Sorokin who scored his fifth goal of the season to equalize the match before halftime. Three of Sorokin's five goals on the season were with the header. The goal came just 23 seconds after Sorokin had checked into the game and was his first shot of the evening.
8. Jennings Powers Through
Jennings had a knack for doing what seemed impossible at times, and he put that on display with this goal against VCU. He pump faked one defender out of position and shot the ball through three Rams before finding the back of the net.
7. Top Shelf Spinner
Mauricio Villalobos Vega couldn't have scored his first career goal in any better way. With UCF leading 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference semifinals, Villalobos spun a ball into the top right corner of the net from inside the 18-yard box. The shot appeared as if it would miss everything, but had enough spin on it to comeback and beat Temple's 6-foot-9 goalkeeper who didn't even get the chance to react to it.
6. Hats Off for Cal
Jennings netted 20 goals and three hat tricks in 2018 but didn't have a three-goal game in 2019 for the entirety of the season. He finally added his fourth career hat trick in the American Athletic Conference semifinals as he tallied goals in the 30th, 68th and 73rd minutes. His hat trick helped propel the Knights to a 5-0 victory over the Temple Owls and advanced the Knights to their third straight American title match.
5. Conference Clincher
Gianluca Arcangeli at times seemed like a secret weapon for the Knights. He would come off the bench in the second half of games and find ways to score. Prior to UCF's match against Memphis on Nov. 1, Arcangeli hadn't scored a goal in two months. That changed when the Black and Gold needed him most, as he found the back of the net in the 85th minute of a scoreless match. With the victory, UCF clinched the top seed in the conference tournament and at least a share of the 2019 regular season title.
4. Tulsa Takeaway
Tulsa came into Orlando and competed with the Knights for over 100 minutes. UCF's Jonas Schmalbach and Jennings created pressure in double overtime, allowing Jennings to force a turnover. He was able to get a cross away with a defender in his face where Vivi was waiting at the top of the 18 yard box to punch the golden goal home.
3. Golden Spin Cycle
Despite being just a freshman, Vivi played the hero in some high-pressure situations for UCF. He netted his third game winning, overtime goal as he remained calm and collected as he sealed the deal on the road at Cincinnati. The win completed the Knights' unbeaten run through their conference schedule as they finished with a record of 6-0-1 in league play. The victory also clinched the outright American Athletic Conference regular season title.
2. Tic-Tac-Toe
The Knights pulled off an incredible set piece to upend one of college soccer's elite brands, the UNC Tarheels. The set piece goal in the 78th minute wound up being the game winner as UCF held off the No. 6 ranked Tarheels by a score of 2-1. Louis Perez and Sorokin were credited with assists on the play.
1. NCAA 2nd Round Game Winner
UCF's top play of 2019 is a contender for one of the most important goals of all-time in program history as the goal punched the Knights' first ticket to the NCAA Tournament's round of 16. Jennings punched home a cross from Vivi for the game winner just 42 seconds into overtime. The play started from goalkeeper Yannik Oettl, who booted the ball down the field, leading to Vivi and eventually the goal. Oettl was awarded an assist on the play, his only one of the season and third of his career.
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