ORLANDO, Fla. – Five matches through and five matches to go. The UCF women’s soccer team (8-3-0) returns home for a three-match homestand, welcoming Texas (8-3-2) to Orlando for their first and last meeting as conference opponents. UCF will be suited up in Citronaut blue for its annual #SpaceU match, honoring the university's strong ties with the space program dating back to the school’s inception in 1963. Last season, the ‘Nauts defeated Cincinnati, 1-0, following a wonder goal by Olivia Lewis.
Thursday’s match will be televised on ESPNU, the Knights first linear match of the season. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex. You can follow along here.
The Knights and Longhorns battled to an exciting, 2-2, draw in Austin last season. Both teams eventually went on to go unbeaten in conference play and win their respective conferences. The last meeting in Orlando between the two squads saw a dominating UCF display as it bested Texas, 4-0, to open the 2021 campaign.
SQUAD INSIGHT
What felt like the Knights first Big 12 road trip saw the squad split points, defeating the Sooners last Sunday to get back in the win column following its first defeat in conference play. With two 2-1 results, UCF showed its ability to both fight back after falling down and its ability to defend the lead. Martin shined in the Knights third all-time meeting with the Cowgirls as she netted her third of the season to cap off one of her best displays of the season thus far. In Norman, it was a match of firsts, with Mia Asenjo notching her first career goal and Kyliegh Thelen's winner serving as he first in Black and Gold.
With five matches remaining, fifth-year Caroline DeLisle will look to secure the program record in shutouts sooner rather than later. With 30 currently to her name, the Tampa native has consistently been one of the top shot-stoppers in the entire nation. With Ariel Young back in the mix, DeLisle has multiple center backs capable of ushering in a strong defensive display. Another standout on the Knights road trip out West was Katie Bradley, who continues to serve as a source of creation from both open play chances and her set piece prowess. The England native served in a beautiful corner in the second half that the aforementioned Thelen put away to give the Knights the advantage. In the first half, Bradley cut the backline, playing in a perfect through ball to Martin who passed it to a wide-open Asenjo. Her five assists and nine points both mark career highs.
THE OPPONENT
Tabbed to finish third in the Big 12 following their dominating 2022 display a year ago, the Longhorns have had a roller-coaster of a season thus far. Texas fell to LSU, 3-1, in late August before embarking on a four-match winning streak in which it outscored opponents 24-0. A scoreless draw with Gonzaga preceded Big 12 conference play where the Longhorns opened with a 4-0 triumph at Baylor. The result preceded a three-match skid, including a dramatic last-second loss versus Texas Tech, 2-1, a defeat against BYU, and a scoreless draw with West Virginia. Texas got back into the win column following a 2-1 victory at Kansas.
Following her transition from Tennessee to Texas in 2011, Angela Kelly has shown her ability as one of the nation’s best coaches. A first Big 12 title in 2022, along with a birth to the NCAA Tournament Second Round, eventually falling to Duke, 1-0. The coveted regular season title was in the making, with multiple deep runs in the Big 12 tournament. At Tennessee, Kelly led the Lady Vols to three consecutive SEC regular season titles and four SEC Tournament titles.
When it comes to an attacking duo, there are few teams that compare to Texas’ Lexi Missimo and Trinity Byars. The tandem has begged 27 goals combined through 13 matches, responsible for more than 55 percent of the Longhorns goals this season. Missimo (3.38) and Byars (2.83) sit back-to-back atop the NCAA points per game rankings.
STORYLINES
- Since September 3, 2022, the Knights have gone unbeaten at home, with nine wins and one draw in the nearly 400-day span.
- UCF remains atop the three other conference newcomers with 12 points through the first half of Big 12 play. BYU (11), Cincinnati (5), and Houston (3).
- Martin is just one assist away setting a career high as she matched her 2022 tally of five in just 11 matches this season. I definitely started later than I hoped, but I still feel like I gave a lot of effort. This opportunity was the perfect start in getting me accustomed to the minor and I look forward to continuing my learning experience in the months to come.