ORLANDO – UCF Women’s Soccer standout Dayana Martin has been tabbed to the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference Team; the league office announced Wednesday morning. The fifth year is set to embark on her final collegiate season, as Martin saw a breakout campaign in 2022, landing her on the American Athletic All-Conference First Team.
Following sustained appearances from 2018-21, the Boca Raton native slotted into the starting lineup midseason for an away match with Temple. Along with Kristen Scott and Mallory Olsson, Martin instantly became vital to the squad’s performance. With an assist in the Knights 4-0 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 13, Martin notched two along with a goal at Tulsa days later on Oct. 16 in a 3-2 win.
Martin had a knack for scoring in the squad’s most high-profile matches of the season. When the Knights traveled to Austin for a meeting with the eventual Big 12 champions and future conference opponents Texas, she broke free and leveled the match at 1-1 in the first half before the eventual 2-2 draw with the Longhorns. In the final War on I-4 duel between UCF and South Florida, Martin scored a 16th-minute goal that would eventually become the winner in the Knights 2-0 triumph in Tampa. Though her most prominent goal of the season came in the NCAA Second Round against the eventual national champions, UCLA, in Los Angeles. Her first-half goal gave the Knights the lead, with the bout eventually going to penalties.
Martin set career highs in several categories, including matches played (18), starts (10), goals (five), assists (five) and points (15). The dominant season landed her on the aforementioned AAC All-Conference First Team, becoming one of six Knights to garner postseason honors.
UCF will begin the season with an away match at Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the 17th. The Big 10 squad will provide a stern test for the Knights in their first non-conference tie as a part of their new conference. UCF will be one of four new programs joining the Big 12 this season, along with BYU and former conference mates, Cincinnati and Houston, the Knights will be competing in one of the premier conferences in the NCAA. Martin becomes the first Knight to receive Big 12 honors, as her ability to both create and score goals makes her one of the most dangerous players in the nation.
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
GK: Kayza Massey (West Virginia)
D: Laveni Vaka (BYU)|
D: Hannah Anderson (Texas Tech)
D: Olivia Hasler (TCU)
MF: Jamie Shepherd (BYU)
MF: Gracie Brian (TCU)
MF: Lexi Messimo (Texas)
F: Trinity Byars (Texas)
F: Camryn Lancaster (TCU)
F: Brecken Mozingo (BYU)
F: Dayana Martin (UCF)