Women’s Soccer Set to Open Season Thursday at Florida AtlanticWomen’s Soccer Set to Open Season Thursday at Florida Atlantic

Women’s Soccer Set to Open Season Thursday at Florida Atlantic

by James Warnick

ORLANDO – The UCF women’s soccer team will officially open its 2024 season on Thursday at Florida Atlantic. The in-state contest is set for 7 p.m. and will take place at FAU Football Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida.

Thursday’s opener will air live on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available for the contest by visiting FAU.StatBroadcast.com.

“We are excited to officially kick off our season this Thursday at FAU,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Although we are still evaluating our team because it is still early, I believe we will showcase a balanced and dynamic roster.”

Head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak is back for her 12th season at the helm of UCF women’s soccer in 2024. After posting a solid 10-7-1 overall record and a sixth-place finish in their inaugural season of play in the Big 12 last year with a 5-4-1 clip, the Knights welcome back five starters from the 2023 squad and 10 returning letterwinners. Thirteen newcomers have also joined the team this season, with six transfers and seven freshmen.

UCF had a trio of players named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team last week in senior forward Chloe Netzel, sophomore defender Jessica McCullen, and freshman forward Edidiong Etim. Netzel fronted the team a season ago in goals (7), points (17), and game-winning goals (4). She also capped her 2023 campaign by earning Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team honors. McCullen, who was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team last year, helped anchor the Black and Gold’s back line by playing in 15 matches as a freshman and 1093 total minutes. Etim earns Preseason All-Big 12 accolades after excelling on Nigeria’s U17 squad prior to coming to Orlando.

In the new-look 16-team Big 12 Conference, the Knights were picked to finish sixth in the conference’s 2024 preseason poll. BYU, who advanced to the Final Four at the 2023 NCAA Tournament, was picked to win the league, while the defending conference champion Texas Tech Red Raiders were tabbed second, TCU third, Colorado fourth, and Arizona State fifth. UCF was picked to finish ahead of West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Arizona, Utah, Cincinnati, Kansas, Houston, Iowa State, and Kansas State.

Behind Netzel’s team-leading seven goals from last season, junior forward Mia Asenjo is next with three 2023 goals, while senior defender Kyleigh Thelen scored one. Netzel, Asenjo, Thelen, McCullen, and senior midfielder Annika Huhta are UCF’s five returning starters from a season ago. Of the group, Netzel, Asenjo, and Huhta were named team captains ahead of the 2024 campaign.

The Black and Gold also welcome back five more returning letterwinners in senior midfielder Jade Steele, junior midfielder Polly Watson, sophomore midfielder, Brooke Mulroney, sophomore forward Jalen Haas, and sophomore defender Audrey Buck. Seven more Knights that either redshirted or missed the 2023 season due to injury are also back in senior keeper Lizah Pistorio, sophomore midfielders Daniella Chung and Maria Tregansin, and redshirt freshmen Natalia Ballinas (D), Lilly Nava (F), Genesis Perez Watson (GK), and Jada Silvest (D).

Of the newcomers, the six transfers are seniors Kayla Chatman-Haggarty (D, Ole Miss), Taylor Jacobson (D, South Carolina), Caitlyn Matthews (M, Houston), and Emily Thompson (F, West Virginia), as well as sophomores Honoka Hamano (M, Memphis) and Grace Thao (M, Colorado). The seven true freshmen new to Orlando are Katsi Bengoa (M, San Juan, Puerto Rico), Gabi Berchon (M, Porto Alegre, Brazil), Iisa Elovaara (M/D, Richmond, Va.), Etim (Uyo, Nigeria), Guta Franke (Porto Alegre, Brazil), Ella Holloran (Wellington, Fla.), and Sami Lipcon (GK, Miami, Fla.).

“Our new transfers and freshmen have already made a significant impact adding fresh energy to our game plan while our key returners bring valuable experience and leadership. It’s an exciting time for UCF athletics, and we’re eager to see how this talented group will perform on the field,” Roberts Sahaydak added.

SEASON OPENERS UNDER ROBERTS SAHAYDAK

The Knights will enter Thursday’s season opener holding to a 6-5-0 record in season-opening matches under Roberts Sahaydak. UCF has also won four straight season openers and has outscored its opponents by an impressive 11-0 score. During the stretch, the Knights have shutout Temple (3-0), Texas (4-0), Florida (3-0), and Purdue (1-0).

ABOUT FLORIDA ATLANTIC

FAU will enter the 2024 campaign off an 8-7-5 record a season ago which included a 3-3-3 mark and a seventh-place finish in its first season of competition in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls were recently picked to finish fifth in the AAC this year after advancing to the semifinals of the AAC Tournament last year.

A trio of Florida Atlantic players were named the AAC Women’s Soccer Watch List recently in goalkeeper Lexi Gonzalez, defender Jodi Smith, and midfielder Sofia Voldby. Gonzalez registered six shutouts last year and tallied her 100th career save in a win over South Florida at the AAC Tournament. Smith was tabbed Second Team All-AAC last season after helping FAU record the six shutouts, while Voldby posted four goals, one assist, and a pair of game-winning goals.

ALL-TIME VS. FAU

Thursday’s opener will mark the 25th all-time contest between the Knights and Owls. The Black and Gold will enter play holding to a commanding 18-5-1 series advantage. UCF has also won three straight and four of the last five meetings, which includes a 2-1 victory in Orlando last September. The series is split at 4-4 with contests played in Boca Raton, however.  

UP NEXT

Following Thursday’s match, the Knights will return to Orlando to welcome Utah Valley to town for their 2024 home opener on Thursday, Aug. 22. The contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Black and Gold will then hit the road for a matchup at Florida on Sunday, Aug. 25, before hosting No. 14 Georgia on Sunday, Sept. 1.