No. 17 Men's Soccer Bests UC Irvine, 5-1No. 17 Men's Soccer Bests UC Irvine, 5-1

No. 17 Men's Soccer Bests UC Irvine, 5-1

Rojas nets first career brace in first collegiate match, Citronauts tally four second-half goals in winning effort.

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – Riding back-to-back one-goal showings entering Friday evening’s action, the No. 17 UCF men’s soccer team was primed for an explosion.

It certainly came, giving shades of the spectacle that frequents the Cape Canaveral launch pads some 45 miles due east of the UCF Soccer Complex.

Fittingly donning their Canaveral blue SpaceU kits in accompaniment of the squad’s first of two space games of the season, the Knights’ offensive attack erupted for a season high five goals, highlighted by freshman Carlos Rojas’ first collegiate brace, in the team’s 5-1 win over the UC Irvine Anteaters Friday evening.

 

“We have many players on this team who can score goals. To get goals from as many of the guys as we did tonight is great, because when they score goals, they gain confidence. Now when they get in front of the goal, they have a different feeling. I’m really happy to get those guys going.”

Scott CalabreseHead coach

The Knights (2-0-2), rebranded as the Citronauts for the evening, were relentless on the offensive end of the pitch throughout the evening, producing not only a new season-best five scores, but single-game season highs in total shot attempts (20), shots on goal (13) and corner kicks (8) as well.

The prolific showing complemented the team’s defensive efforts well, as the squad yielded just a single score for the fourth consecutive game to begin the new season, marking the first time since the 2013 campaign that has seen the Knights allow one or fewer goals in each of their first four games of a season.

UCF’s 20 shot attempts also represented its highest single game total since it threw 28 at the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Orlando Nov. 5. The Knights’ 13 shots on goal, meanwhile, marked their most since their 13 in the group’s five-goal outburst against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Oct. 18 last season, appropriately, another space game for the program.

“There were a number of chances that we didn’t convert that were really close as well. It’s been a huge emphasis in training the last two weeks: getting into the final third and creating those chances, and then finishing our chances.”

Scott CalabreseHead coach

Mission accomplished for the Citronauts, and then some.

The fireworks began early, with senior forward Emmanuel Bam igniting his team’s offense in just the fifth minute of action. He received a long pass from fifth year defender Jonas Fritsci from UCF’s defensive end and got to work.

The Accra, Ghana, native dribbled through a pair of Anteater defenders before taking a shot from above the 18-yard box. The ball sailed past the UC Irvine goalkeeper through the upper right corner, pushing the ‘Nauts out to an early 1-0 advantage.

Bam’s tally marked his second of the season, making him his team’s first multi-goal scorer of the 2024 fall campaign with his sixth career goal.

Sophomore midfielder Yanis Belatrache took his turn next, potting his first career game-winning goal just after the commencement of the second half.

On the heels of a match-tying Anteaters (1-2-1) score in the 34th minute of the first half, Belatrache and redshirt sophomore Joey Mueller teamed up to swing the momentum right back to their team’s bench. Mueller corralled an errant UC Irvine pass just outside the box before sending it through the legs of Rojas, acting as a sort of decoy, to Belatrache just behind him.

A light touch by Belatrache was all that was required, as the Herblay sur Seine, France, native sent the ball floating into the back of the net to restore the Citronauts’ one-goal advantage in the 49th minute.

“I saw an opportunity to run it behind and I got the ball just out of the box. I saw Carlos first, and I wrapped it into him, and Carlos made a great ‘dummy’ play before Yanis finished it off, and I got my first assist.”

Joey MuellerRedshirt sophomore midfielder

UCF’s offensive insurance came on the back of a hustle play by newcoming midfielder Javier López Sánchez, who outran three UC Irvine defenders to create a breakaway chance in the 73rd minute.

His shot attempt was narrowly denied by the Anteater netminder, but junior transfer forward Clarence Awoudor had positioned himself perfectly to clean up a rebound off the save.

With his team firmly in command of the affairs with a 3-1 advantage, Rojas added an emphatic exclamation point.

Appearing in the first match of his collegiate career, the Orlando native scored his first two collegiate goals just 78 seconds apart, the first coming on a well-executed header off a free kick by fifth year Anderson Rosa, and the second with aid from Awoudor that followed a misplay by the Anteater goalkeeper.

“It felt amazing. I’ve been waiting for my opportunity for the past three games. To come in and score those two goals and help the team was great. It’s a surreal feeling, and I’ve been working really hard these past few days to get this moment.”

Carlos RojasFreshman forward

The Citronauts’ offensive efforts were more than enough for redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Shane Wright, making his second straight collegiate start in the stead of injured starter Juanvi Muñoz.

Wright represented the steady presence his team was looking for throughout the contest, making a personal game-high three saves beginning with his thwarting of an Anteaters chance just 69 seconds in.

“He’s very solid, a really strong performance again,” Calabrese said of Wright. “He made good decisions and came up with few big saves when he needed to, and that’s what you need. He’s put back-to-back games together after training and playing all summer and he’s come into this opportunity that has now presented itself for him prepared. You see good performances from him, and it’s no surprise.”

UP NEXT

The Knights, unbeaten through their first four matches of the season, will now face their first test away from home when the team embarks on a trip south to square off against the FIU Panthers in Miami Sept. 11. Kickoff for the match is slated for 7 p.m. from FIU Soccer Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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