Men's Soccer Tops Georgia State, 2-1Men's Soccer Tops Georgia State, 2-1

Men's Soccer Tops Georgia State, 2-1

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – The way the goals are coming for the members of the UCF men's soccer team embarking on their debut seasons in Orlando this fall, the entire group will end up indebted to fifth year senior Anderson Rosa.

“(Alex Smith) is the third player who I’ve given their first goal to,” Rosa said, cracking a smile. “They all owe me a dinner.”

Indeed, Rosa provided the lone assist for Smith’s first score as a Knight before he later found the back of the net himself, helping lead the Black and Gold to a 2-1 victory over the Georgia State Panthers and weather a 72-minute mid-match lightning delay at the UCF Soccer Complex Sunday evening.

The winning effort represented UCF’s (3-2-3, 1-1-0 SBC) third of the season and first since the squad’s 5-1 rout of the UC Irvine Anteaters Sept. 6, snapping a three-match winless drought while also bringing the Knights back to .500 in Sun Belt Conference play with their first league win of the year.

The Black and Gold also pushed their all-time record against the Panthers (3-5-1, 0-2-0 SBC) to 9-3-0 in 12 meetings between the two programs, including an active four-match win streak dating back to the 2004 season.

“Difficult game. You start the game, you have to delay, and somehow maintain your concentration, come back out and perform at the right level, which our guys did a great job with. With our guys, especially in the second half, there was this response. We increased our level and did a great job to meet the challenge and get the three points.”

Scott Calabresehead coach

The set piece opportunities have come in bunches for the Knights throughout the early portion of the 2024 fall campaign, as UCF entered the evening second in the Sun Belt Conference and 17th in the nation with an average of 6.57 corner kicks per game. The third of 10 total that came the Knights’ way Sunday paved way for their first score of the evening.

Rosa lined up his try for the box and sent the ball in, which was met by a leaping Smith who cashed in on the team’s early scoring chance with a well-executed header.

The tally represented his first since the Jacksonville, Florida, native transferred to Orlando prior to this fall, and the fourth of his four-plus-year career after the defender scored three times in his four-year tenure with Georgia Southern.

“We’ve been working on set pieces all year. I knew my role was to go close to the goalkeeper, and anything that came out, just try to get a head on it. It was great, I hadn’t scored a header in my college career yet. It was fantastic to see it go in.”

Alex Smithfifth year defender

Smith also represents the third Knights newcomer to score his first goal of 2024 season with an assist credited to Rosa, joining Drew Hansen, whose goal helped UCF clinch a 1-1 draw with then-No. 23 Seattle Aug. 25, and Carlos Rojas, who netted the first of his first two collegiate goals against UC Irvine with help from UCF’s veteran defender.

“When I put the ball down, I had in my mind that it was going to be a goal,” Rosa added. “I hit it right in the PK spot to Alex. Great goal, great finish.”

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The Black and Gold battled through a closely-played match throughout the evening, yielding a Panthers score just before the conclusion of the first half but managing to limit the damage to a single score. With the contest approaching its final minutes, Rosa again stepped up on the offensive end.

Redshirt sophomore Joey Mueller gathered a long pass from fifth year senior Jonas Fritschi in the near corner and dribbled a few paces before sending a pass toward the middle of the box.

The ball ricocheted off a Panthers defender and right to the waiting feet of Rosa at the top of the box, who took a beat to settle the ball before his left-footed strike sailed past the conference leader in total saves (38) and saves per game (4.75) in Georgia State goalkeeper Josh Hangi.

Rosa’s 84th minute goal, in addition to giving his squad the advantage it needed, ensured that he will have scored at least once in each of his five seasons with the Knights. The defender’s tally marked his first of the season, seventh of his career, and second career game-winner.

“They’re a difficult team. Every conference game is tough; there are no easy games. If you want to win the conference, you have to play against teams that defend a lot, attack a lot, and are very physical. It’s a great game, great win to help put us in the right mindset.”

Anderson Rosafifth year defender

With aid from his team in front of him, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Shane Wright made one save in two shots on goal-against on the other end, recording the fifth match of his first six with two or fewer goals allowed, as well as his fourth contest permitting one or fewer goals.

In helping clinch the second win of his young collegiate career, the Orlando native now boasts a goals-against average of 1.50 with an even 20 saves through six games.

“You’ve got to figure out a way to win games,” Calabrese continued. “Ultimately, if we’re producing, getting six or seven corners or free kicks in a game, we want to get something for it. We’ve spent more time this year than any other year in rehearsing these different situations, and it’s going to be a continued focus for us.”

UP NEXT

Riding their third win of the season, the Knights will hit the road once again for a matchup with the No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers Saturday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va., and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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