ORLANDO – An anchor of the UCF men’s soccer team’s defensive efforts the throughout the last four seasons, Anderson Rosa has been named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Players to Watch – Defenders list ahead of the squad’s Aug. 22 season-opener, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
The fifth year senior has appeared in and started each of the Knights’ 60 matches throughout his first four seasons in Orlando, and for his efforts during his debut campaign in the Sun Belt Conference last fall garnered All-Conference Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team honors.
The defender also became the 13th player in program history, and the fourth in the last three seasons, to see his name selected in the MLS SuperDraft when he was chosen by the Colorado Rapids with the 14th pick in the second round Dec. 19, 2023, before he decided to return to UCF for his final collegiate season in 2024.
Rosa in 2023 started all 16 matches for his squad, representing the second most in a single season in his career, trailing only his 17 appearances in the fall 2021 season. He scored a season high three goals, doubling his previous career total of three spanning his first three collegiate campaigns, and netted his first career game-winner at South Carolina Oct. 22.
Anderson angles it in! pic.twitter.com/ydzzbwNbXj
— UCF Men's Soccer (@UCF_MSoccer) October 22, 2023
The Salvador, Bahia, Brazil native also set personal single-season bests in shot attempts (18) and shots on goal (5, tied for season high), and aided the Black and Gold in limiting their opposition to two or fewer goals in 15 of their 16 total matches a year ago.
Eyes on @arosa_3 👀
— UCF Men's Soccer (@UCF_MSoccer) August 6, 2024
He's been tabbed a @UnitedCoaches Defender to Watch this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/UzQtS2ihdd
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