Perez Watson Named Big 12 Freshman of the WeekPerez Watson Named Big 12 Freshman of the Week

Perez Watson Named Big 12 Freshman of the Week

by James Warnick

IRVING, Texas – UCF redshirt freshman goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson has been named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Perez Watson was key in leading the Knights to a 0-0 draw at Colorado on Sunday by recording an impressive tally of 14 saves in goal against the Buffaloes. Perez Watson was tested early and often in the contest against CU, and the Black and Gold keeper was up for the challenge by stopping every shot that was sent her way. The 14 saves tie for the most by any keeper in the Big 12 this season and also good enough to tie for seventh in the UCF single-game record books.

The shutout marked Perez Watson’s first solo collegiate clean sheet.

Perez Watson hails from San Jose, Costa Rica. Earlier this fall, she took part at the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup as the starting goalkeeper for her home nation of Costa Rica.

The weekly honor marked the first of Perez Watson’s career and the third of the season for UCF, as Jada Silvest and Taylor Jacobson each received Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week accolades last month.

Other Big 12 weekly award winners on Wednesday are Gianna Christiansen of Arizona and Ashleigh Williams of Texas Tech for offensive honors, Alex Morris of Oklahoma State for defensive, and Jordan Nytes of Colorado for goalkeeper.

Perez Watson and the Knights will open a three-game homestand Thursday against first-place and eighth-ranked TCU at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Black and Gold will then face Oklahoma State on Sunday (12:30 p.m.) and close the regular season against Cincinnati on Friday, Oct. 25 (6 p.m.).