Men's Soccer Notches Second Clean Sheet against Old Dominion, 2-0Men's Soccer Notches Second Clean Sheet against Old Dominion, 2-0

Men's Soccer Notches Second Clean Sheet against Old Dominion, 2-0

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – The recent respective returns from injury for Lucca Dourado and Juanvi Muñoz have not only served as confidence-boosters for the duo as they continue their road to full health; the veterans’ presence has injected new life into their teammates as well.

“It gives others confidence too, to have those guys out there. It lifts the group. They’re excited to have them back out there, so it’s a very positive day for us.”

Scott CalabreseHead Coach

Dourado and Muñoz, in just their second game on the pitch since they missed a combined 13 matches, wasted no time taking on their mantles as two of the team’s leaders, helping propel the UCF men’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over the Old Dominion Monarchs at the UCF Soccer Complex Friday evening.

The winning effort represented the fourth of the season for the Black and Gold (4-4-3, 2-3-0 SBC), as well as their second league win of the fall, joining the squad’s 2-1 win over Georgia State Sept. 29.

In blanking the Monarchs (4-6-2, 0-4-1), UCF also notched its second clean sheet of the season and its first since the team played to a scoreless draw with the South Florida Bulls Sept. 15. Muñoz’s two-save showing clinched his first shutout of the year and the sixth of his two-plus-year collegiate career as well.

“It was a strong performance. Throughout the game, we had the right attitude and we showed up with intensity. Old Dominion forces you to compete at a high level, and we dealt with the physicality of the match well. We created a lot of chances, and we’ll get some confidence from that moving forward.”

Scott CalabreseHead Coach

In addition to twice finding the back of the net, the Knights produced a season-high-tying 20 shot attempts, joining the squad’s total of 20 in its 5-1 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters Sept. 6. The ones that made their way past Old Dominion netminder Michael Statham, who entered Friday’s action second in the conference with 40 total saves and 3.64 saves per game, came courtesy of Dourado and sophomore Mouhamed Pouye.

Two key deflections made Dourado’s score possible, beginning with junior Clarence Awoudor’s deflected cross that made its way to the feet of Ousmane Ba. The senior sent the ball right back toward the Monarchs’ goal, kicked and deflected past Statham by Dourado, who was stationed just outside the six-yard box.

“It feels very good, I’m very happy, especially for the three points, that’s what matters now. I’m happy to be back scoring goals, Ousmane tried a shot and I got his goal.”

Lucca DouradoForward

The goal, Dourado’s second of the season and first since UCF’s season-opening 3-1 win over Mercer Aug. 22, also marked the 39th of his storied Knights career, pulling him into a tie for fifth on the all-time UCF list with Rony Francois (1980-83). With his next score, the forward would become the fifth in program history to eclipse the 40-goal plateau.

“He obviously makes a big difference when he’s out there, not just with the goals but he’s dangerous, and he attracts a lot of attention. When he does that, other players are available and we’re able to do things with that front group that are a bit more difficult when he’s not in there.”

Scott CalabreseHead Coach

The Black and Gold added their second score in the 89th minute of action, a tally that marked the first collegiate goal for Pouye with 74 seconds to play. Jonas Fritschi passed up his control of the ball near the middle of his team’s offensive end for Anderson Rosa, who dribbled a few paces before sending the ball Pouye’s way just in front of him.

The sophomore executed a quick one-touch shot just outside the six-yard box, and the ball floated just above Statham’s reach and into the Old Dominion net.

The late tally, in addition to the first of Pouye’s career, also marked the fourth goal this season on which Rosa has provided an assist to a Knight scoring his first of the year. Rosa also previously assisted Drew Hansen, Carlos Rojas and Alex Smith in scoring each player’s first goal of the season.

“He had been gaining time and getting comfortable,” Calabrese said of Pouye. “I know it means so much to him to get a chance to play, and for him to produce in a really key moment, the way he takes that goal was excellent. I’m super happy for him.”

UP NEXT

UCF looks to build upon its recent momentum in its penultimate home match of the 2024 regular season, when the Knights welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to Orlando. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex Oct. 23, and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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