ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 14 UCF men's soccer team is set to renew its rivalry with South Florida, as the two will meet for the 38th time on Saturday night at the UCF Soccer Complex at 6 p.m.
The Knights are coming off a win in their last outing. The Black and Gold paid Temple a visit and came away with a 1-0 victory on the strength of a Gino Vivi goal and a clean sheet from Yannik Oettl and the defense. The two teams played in sub-freezing conditions as the temperature at kickoff was around 28 degrees.
Oettl's clean sheet on Saturday gave him 13 for his career. The clean sheet moved him into a tie for sixth on UCF's career shutouts list. Not only is he setting program records but climbing on multiple NCAA active leaders list. In Division I, Oettl enters a tie of 10th place for active shutouts, stands alone in fourth for active minutes, is 10th in total active saves and 18th in goals allowed average.
South Florida enters the match with a record of 0-2-0, falling to SMU by a score of 7-0 their last time out. The first loss to of the season for the Bulls was a tight 3-2 loss to Temple on opening weekend. South Florida was an at-large bid in last season's NCAA Tournament, but couldn't make it past the first round as they were defeated by Louisville 4-1.
The previous three contests a in this War On I-4 rivalry have been close. UCF was edged 3-2 in double overtime in Tampa in head coach Scott Calabrese's first season in 2017. Since then, the Knights have taken the previous two meetings by a goal each, winning on the road 2-1 in 2018 and 1-0 in 2019. This will be the first occasion in which the Bulls visit UCF with Calabrese at the helm.
A win would give UCF their 400th victory in program history. The Knights eclipsed their 300th win as a Division I program last season on the road at UConn, where the Black and Gold earned a 2-1 overtime victory.
UCF has early control of the all-sport War On I-4 tally, currently leading the count 18-3. The winner of Saturday's match between these two teams will earn their school three additional points to the count, as will their next matchup later this season on Mar. 27.
TICKETING, MASKING & CAPACITY
The UCF Soccer Complex will allow 25 percent of total fan capacity at home matches this season. No ticket is required for entry as matches are free to attend. Masks are required and must be worn while in the venue and on campus. For more information on matchday protocols, visit our 2020-21 Olympic Sports Gameday A-Z Guidelines.
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