ORLANDO – The No. 19 UCF men’s soccer team’s attacking corps enjoyed a productive first season within the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, and with a strong majority of the group returning to Orlando for the fall 2024 slate, the team looks to build upon its offensive exploits that, last season, were ranked among the top programs in the nation.
Though the team will enter the new season without the reigning conference Freshman of the Year in Saku Heiskanen, who signed on to play professionally in his native Finland shortly after last season’s conclusion, the Black and Gold return 11 players from its pool of forwards and midfielders, joined by a trio of promising newcomers.
The Knights last season averaged just over two goals per game and suffered a shutout loss just once in their 16 matches. The squad’s 33 total goals, good for fourth-most in the conference, translated to an average of 2.06 per game, a mark that ranked second most in the Sun Belt and 15th nationally. UCF also established itself among the best in the country in keeping constant pressure on the offensive end, as the team finished within the top three in the Sun Belt in shot attempts per game (14.31, 2nd SBC, 25th NCAA) and shots on goal per game (5.94, 3rd SBC, 37th NCAA).
FORWARDS
Lucca Dourado remains in Orlando for his fifth season donning the Black and Gold this fall and represents the Knights’ leader among forwards and midfielders in returning experience. Dourado is joined in the forward group by senior Emmanuel Bam, junior Clarence Awoudor, sophomore Mouhamed Pouye, redshirt sophomore Joey Mueller, redshirt freshmen Malang Mandiang and Drew Hansen, and incoming freshman Carlos Rojas.
Dourado, like defender Anderson Rosa, represents a key leadership figure and looks to help his team make a lasting impact in his final collegiate campaign. In representing the Knights’ leading scorer a season ago, the São Paulo, Brazil, native garnered selections to the United Soccer Coaches’ All-Southeast Region First Team and the Sun Belt’s All-Conference First Team.
A perfect feed from Bam and a quick strike from Lucca give us the early lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/9nFCWO0Mhm
— UCF Men's Soccer (@UCF_MSoccer) September 5, 2023
Dourado netted a team-leading nine goals and added three assists to compile 21 total points in 2023, marking his third straight season to hit both benchmarks. His three helpers also marked a single-season career best, and the forward set season highs in shot attempts (56) and shots on goal (22) as well, while also scoring a pair of penalty kick goals for the second straight season.
The fifth year senior in 2023 continued climbing the ranks of the all-time greats in program history, becoming the seventh Knight to score at least 30 career goals and finishing the season in seventh place on the all-time career points list (80), and sixth on the all-time career goals scored list (37).
⏱️ 15' — LUCCA BREAKS THE ICE! The forward becomes the seventh 30-goal scorer in program history!
— UCF Men's Soccer (@UCF_MSoccer) September 5, 2023
⚔️ 1 - 0 🐱 pic.twitter.com/FONKMskF2I
Awoudor prepares for his second slate with the Knights after transferring from Oregon State, and looks to build upon a debut season in Orlando that saw him earn Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023. The Saint-Lo, France, native appeared in a season-high 16 matches last year, and set season-best marks in a myriad of categories, including goals scored (4), assists (4), shot attempts (27), shots on goal (14) and game-winning goals (2).
His first two goals as a Knight both represented game-winners, with the first coming against Stetson Aug. 27, and the second against Coastal Carolina Oct. 18.
Bam, like Awoudor, enjoyed a breakout second collegiate season in 2023, helping anchor the Knights’ offensive attack throughout the campaign with a season-high 16 appearances, including seven starts.
He scored the first four goals of his career last year, highlighted by the first of his career that served as the game-winner in UCF’s 2-1 season-opening victory at then-No. 9 Clemson Aug. 24. In doing so, the senior became the first Knight since Kevin Andrews (Oct. 9, 2022) to have his first career goal also represent a game-winner.