In its 49th season playing collegiate soccer and 40th at the Division I level, the UCF men’s soccer program has climbed as high as a team can possibly go in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, reaching the No. 1 ranking this past Tuesday, earning seven of eight possible first place votes. Over the past eight seasons, Scott Calabrese has been at the helm of the Knights and turned the program into a perennial powerhouse after inheriting a team that had compiled three consecutive losing seasons. From the start, Calabrese and company immediately elevated the level of the program, one that now eight seasons later, is ranked at the top of the college soccer world. UCF’s No. 1 ranking is a tribute to the leaps and bounds the program has taken in less than a decade and stands as a sign of things to come.
Juanvi Munoz, Anderson Rose | Photo by: Tyler Thomas“It means a lot [to be ranked number one]. I think we’ve got a group of young men who really committed to work incredibly hard; we have a staff, assistant coaches, support staff that have worked incredibly hard. It’s something where you get a lot of motivation and a lot of validation from that ranking and it feels good.”
Scott Calabrese“When I first arrived at UCF back in 2016, I had always heard UCF being talked about as a sleeping giant with lots of potential. Even before I got to UCF there were great players such as Warren Creavalle, Kevan George, Romario Williams, Hadji Barry, Sean Johnson and a whole lot more who came thru the program and had successful teams. I’m most proud of how we’re not only developing great players to send to the pros, but we’ve also found consistency in winning conference championships, making NCAA tournament runs, and being highly-ranked season after season. It’s safe to say the men’s soccer program and the rest of the University are no longer sleeping. That’s a testament to all those who have come along before now and to the character that the current players and staff are continuing to grow and build off. Happy to see the program achieve such a great accomplishment and keep pushing onwards and upwards.”
Cal Jennings“I think UCF being ranked No. 1 in the nation is an incredible achievement. Coach Calabrese, Coach Souders, Coach Davies and company have done an incredible job of turning UCF into a top program. From my first year to my last year and even now, UCF has continued to grow and reach new heights. I am proud to be a UCF soccer alumnus and will continue to support and cheer them on.” – Jonathan Dean, two-time team captain
Jonathan Dean“The top of the country is where UCF men’s soccer deserves to be. Every player that has put on that jersey in the past and in the present has given his all to be the No. 1 program in the country. I’m happy and proud for the guys on the present roster and the coaching staff for making it happen.”
Gino Vivi“I think the Sun Belt made a lot of sense. That’s where a lot of the other power five schools that don’t have a home play, South Carolina and Kentucky of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and West Virginia of the Big 12. So, I think that made immediate sense that’s where we wanted to be. And then Marshall obviously winning a national championship a few years back as well as a number of really good teams, it was the right fit and the right move. Anytime you have teams with high RPIs in your league, there is opportunity there, and those opportunities give you the chance to change your season.”
Scott Calabrese“When I decided to come to UCF, I came here to make history. It’s an amazing feeling, but we’re not done yet. We want more, it’s good to enjoy it, but we want to win trophies, that’s the goal.”
Anderson Rosa“I think honestly, it’s their commitment level. The players are an incredibly determined and a mature group. A lot of the work they put in started well before the coaching staff got involved, and I think there was a commitment unlike any other year for them to step up and the leadership group to step up, and to come into the fall season more prepared than they’ve ever been. We got off to a really good start and it was in large part because of what they had done in the offseason and there was some momentum to that.”
Scott Calabrese“Everyone was happy to be ranked number one. We knew at the end of the game that Marshall had lost. We were happy and proud but at the same time we were saying the job’s not done. Everyone just wanted to get back to Orlando and train that next day and get ready for the next game.”
Lucca Dourado