ORLANDO – A key contributor in the No. 19 UCF men’s soccer team’s offensive scheme throughout his four seasons in Orlando, fifth year senior Lucca Dourado has been tabbed to the United Soccer Coaches’ Players to Watch – Forwards list ahead of the team’s Aug. 22 season-opener, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
One of the more decorated attackers in program history, Dourado enters his final collegiate season in need of three goals to become the fifth player in program history to eclipse the 40-goal mark after finishing the 2023 slate in sixth place on the UCF all-time career goals scored list (37) and in seventh place on the career points list (80).
Dourado last season became the seventh player in program history to reach the 30-goal plateau with the Knights and represented the team’s leading scorer with nine goals and three assists. His ‘23 fall slate marked his third straight with at least nine goals scored and 21 total points, while his three assists set a new personal single-season career best.
The São Paulo, Brazil, native also completed his most recent campaign ranked within the conference as well as nationally in a plethora of statistical categories, including goals per game (0.56, 1st SBC, 37th NCAA), shots per game (3.50, 2nd SBC, 18th NCAA), shots on goal per game (1.38, 2nd SBC, 39th NCAA), points per game (1.31, 3rd SBC, 43rd NCAA), total goals (9, T-4th SBC, T-50th NCAA), game-winning goals (3, T-5th SBC, T-47th NCAA), and total points (21, T-5th SBC, T-62nd NCAA).
Dourado found the back of the net in three consecutive matches from Sept. 5-15, scoring against then-No. 11 Florida International, Brown and then-No. 4 West Virginia in that span, before he notched back-to-back multi-goal games against Georgia Southern Oct. 7 and at Old Dominion Oct. 14.
Twice he recorded a season-high seven shot attempts, against Stetson Aug. 27 and South Carolina Nov. 5, and he also produced a season-high four shots on goal against the Hatters as well.
UP NEXT
The Knights prepare for their final tuneup prior to the commencement of the 2024 regular season, when the squad will host the Stetson Hatters at the UCF Soccer Complex in preseason exhibition action Aug. 15. The Black and Gold will then welcome the Mercer Bears to Orlando for the team’s season-opener Aug. 22, immediately following UCF women’s soccer’s home-opener against Utah Valley.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF men’s soccer on X (@UCF_MSoccer), Instagram (@UCF.MSoccer) and Facebook (/UCFMensSoccer).
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite teams by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android devices. The app provides personalized information for men’s and women’s teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and breaking news. Click here to download the app now.