ORLANDO – The UCF men’s soccer team saw the return of a pair of key players from injury Sunday evening, but the team fell to the visiting No. 6 Marshall Thundering Herd, 2-0, at the UCF Soccer Complex.
Fifth year senior Lucca Dourado and junior goalkeeper Juanvi Muñoz, out of match action since Aug. 31 and Aug. 25, respectively, as they recovered from injuries they sustained, both made their return to the pitch for UCF’s (3-4-3, 1-3-0 SBC) Sunday tilt with the sixth-ranked Herd (8-1-2, 3-0-1 SBC).
The matchup represented the Knights’ fourth against a ranked opponent this season, as well as the highest-ranked opponent hosted by the Black and Gold since the squad welcomed the then-No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers to Orlando Sept. 15, 2023.
The reigning 2023 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champion Thundering Herd jumped out to a quick one-goal advantage just 75 seconds into the contest, giving UCF a deficit it was unable to overcome. Marshall then doubled its lead in the 24th minute.
In spite of the Herd’s early offensive momentum, the Knights managed to shut Marshall out throughout the final 66:57 of gametime, yielding only three shot attempts to the visitors in the second half.
Dourado paced the squad offensively, producing a team high three shot attempts and one of his team’s three total shots on goal. Muñoz, on the other end, made one save in his first action between the goalposts since leading the Knights to a 1-1 draw with then-No. 23 Seattle Aug. 25.
UP NEXT
The Knights will look to jump back into the win column in the second of their current three-match homestand, when the team will welcome the Old Dominion Monarchs to Orlando. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex Friday, Oct. 18, and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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