MIAMI, Fla. – The No. 10 UCF men’s soccer team recorded its second straight contest with at least three goals scored, but a late second-half push by the FIU Panthers sent the Knights to their first loss of the fall slate, 4-3, at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium Wednesday evening.
The narrow defeat snapped a four-match unbeaten streak authored by the Black and Gold (2-1-2) to begin the new season, marking the second straight such start produced by the program after it began the 2023 campaign undefeated through six matches with a 4-0-2 season-opening stretch.
The Knights overcame an initial Panthers (1-3-1) goal with two of their own, thanks to senior Emmanuel Bam and junior Clarence Awoudor, to take a 2-1 lead following the first 45 minutes of action.
An FIU infraction within the 18-yard box aided UCF in tying the score as the clock ticked down past 25 minutes remaining in the first half, as a Jonas Fritschi shot attempt off an Awoudor corner kick found the arm of a Panthers defender just in front of the goal.
The Black and Gold were awarded their second penalty kick of the season, and again tasked Awoudor with the honors. The reigning Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year cashed in on his opportunity, sneaking the ball just inside the right goalpost to tie the game at one with the Saint-Lo, France, native’s third goal of the season and second on a penalty chance.
Minutes later, a drive downfield by newcoming fifth year defender Alex Smith created a moment for the his squad to take its first lead of the evening. Smith gathered a pass from fellow newcomer Javier López Sánchez near midfield before giving way to Bam near the box.
Bam, after dribbling further into the Panthers’ territory, delivered a perfectly-placed shot just over a sliding FIU goalkeeper and into the goal’s upper right corner for his third score of the season, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead in the 22nd minute of action in the process.
UCF’s third tally of the evening, courtesy of fifth year Jonas Fritschi, again knotted up the affairs after the Panthers mustered a two-goal counterpunch coming out of the halftime break.
The defender’s first collegiate goal originated from another set piece, as Fritschi managed a shot off his head immediately following an Awoudor free kick just outside the box.
The initial try ricocheted off the right goalpost right back to Fritschi, who quickly ripped a shot past the Panthers goalkeeper on the other side, just inside the left upright.
FIU’s counterattack was relentless, though, as the Panthers produced 20 total shot attempts and 12 on goal in the team’s four-goal effort to down the Black and Gold for the first time in 2024.
Redshirt freshman netminder Shane Wright, meanwhile, weathered the storm throughout the evening, making a career-high eight saves in his third collegiate start.
UP NEXT
The Knights look to bounce back quickly from their first defeat of the fall, as the program will welcome the South Florida Bulls to Orlando in UCF’s non-conference finale Sunday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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