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UCF Opens Season with 5-1 Victory over Florida Atlantic

by James Warnick
Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Freshman Edidiong Etim found the back of the net in the early stages and senior Chloe Netzel recorded her first brace in a UCF uniform, as the Black and Gold went on to defeat Florida Atlantic 5-1 in the season opener on Thursday night at FAU Football Stadium.

A total of four Knights scored in the opening-season contest, as sophomores Jessica McCullen and Honoka Hamano also recorded goals on the evening.

UCF moves to 1-0-0 on the young season with the victory while the Owls drop to 0-1-0. The Knights have now won five consecutive Opening Knight contests and move to 19-5-1 all-time against FAU.  

“I'm incredibly proud of our team's performance in the 5-1 win over FAU in our first game of the season,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Starting the season with four different goal scorers speaks to the depth and versatility of our squad. Our intensity on the field, and the togetherness we showed, were key factors in securing this victory. It was a well-rounded performance that highlights our commitment to playing as a unified team from the very beginning.”

The freshman Etim, who earned Big 12 Preseason All-Conference recognition prior to the season, got the Black and Gold going in the opening stages as she tapped in a goal in the bottom right corner in the third minute. Etim’s first collegiate goal was assisted by Netzel and senior Annika Huhta.

Still holding to the 1-0 advantage in the 39th minute, senior Caitlyn Matthews passed it ahead to sophomore Daniella Chung who connected on a one-touch pass to a streaking Netzel for her first goal of the evening. The goal gave the Knights a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Early in the second half, junior Emily Thompson and Hamano connected with Netzel for her second goal of the match in the 48th minute. Thompson fed Hamano with a beautiful back heel pass and Hamano then found Netzel in the center of the box for the goal. The brace marks Netzel’s first of her career and UCF’s first since Sept. 3 of 2023, when Ellie Moreno scored a pair of goals in a 2-1 victory over FAU at home.

Just six minutes later, Hamano fed in a nice cross off a corner kick that McCullen was able to tap home to give the Knights a 4-0 lead. The assist marked the transfer Hamano’s second of the match as well as the first career goal for the sophomore McCullen.

The Owls then managed to get on the scoreboard in the 61st minute with a goal from Stella Rubidoux to make it a three-goal deficit at 4-1.

The Black and Gold didn’t waste any time responding, however, as Hamano scored her first goal in a UCF uniform and the third of her collegiate career in the 63rd minute to make it 5-1. Freshman Guta Franke and Thompson both were credited with assists on the play, as Franke passed it ahead to Thompson who chipped it over a few Owls to give Hamano the left-footed chance.

The Knights would go on to hold the lead from there, as they went on to record the four-goal advantage.

Preseason All-Big 12 honoree Netzel led the Black and Gold with two goals and an assist, while Hamano recorded a pair of assists and a goal in her debut match for the Black and Gold. Thompson too had a strong opening match at UCF by tallying two assists.

In her first collegiate start, freshman keeper Sami Lipcon had a nice performance in goal by recording four saves and allowing just one goal.

The five goals on the night mark the Black and Gold’s most since Oct. 24, 2021, when the Knights defeated Temple by a score of 5-0.

The Knights will now return home to welcome Utah Valley to town for their 2024 home opener on Thursday, Aug. 22. The home-opening contest is set for 5:30 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.