Men's Soccer Releases 2025 Fall Schedule

ORLANDO – Set for its third go-around as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, the UCF men’s soccer team has announced its 2025 regular-season schedule.

After partaking in a pair of preseason exhibitions on their home turf, the Knights will square off against seven different programs throughout their non-conference slate before navigating their nine-match Sun Belt Conference schedule.

Four of UCF’s 2025 opponents finished the 2024 slate either ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches’ final top 25 poll, and each earned selections to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

In addition to 2024 Sun Belt regular season and tournament champion West Virginia, the Knights will meet two other programs that won conference titles a season ago as well, in Wake Forest and UNC Greensboro.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Prior to commencing regular-season action this fall, UCF will match up against Stetson and North Florida in two preseason tune-ups, both on the Knights’ home turf in Orlando. The Black and Gold’s preseason opener against Stetson is scheduled for Aug. 9, and the team’s exhibition tilt with North Florida is set for Aug. 14.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH ONE | AUG. 21 AT NORTH CAROLINA

The Knights will kick off their 2025 fall slate with the first of a two-game road trip through North Carolina, first matching up against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill Aug. 21.

The Tar Heels produced a 9-4-5 record throughout the 2024 season, receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches’ final top 25 poll after being ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation Oct. 1. Though the program went 0-2 in postseason play, dropping its ACC and NCAA Tournament openers, UNC still earned its fourth nine-plus-win season in the last five years and finished within the NCAA’s final top 25 in RPI (No. 24).

North Carolina also recorded two victories over ranked opponents throughout the 2024 slate, toppling in-state rival and then-No. 18 NC State in shutout fashion, 2-0, and then-No. 7 Stanford in the Heels’ penultimate regular-season match, 2-1.

The matchup between UCF and UNC will mark the eighth in program history, with the Knights looking for their fourth win over the Tar Heels. The two teams last met Sept. 1, 2019, also in Chapel Hill, for a contest that saw UCF pull out a 2-1 victory behind goals by Cal Jennings and Gianluca Arcangeli.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH TWO | AUG. 24 AT WAKE FOREST

UCF will conclude its two-game season-opening North Carolina swing with a clash with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem Aug. 24.

The Deacons last season authored a strong 12-5-7 record, including a 4-2-2 mark in ACC play, en route to claiming the fourth ACC Tournament championship in program history. Their 12-win campaign represented the latest in its tradition of excellence, marking the 10th straight double-digit win season under head coach Bobby Muuss and 13th straight such season overall.

The No. 8 team in the NCAA’s final RPI rankings, Wake Forest was slotted sixth in the United Soccer Coaches’ final top 25 poll after going 4-0 through the ACC Tournament against Syracuse, then-No. 15 SMU, Virginia and then-No. 7 Clemson.

The squad then toppled Maryland and then-No. 7 Clemson once more through the NCAA Tournament’s first and second rounds in Winston-Salem before ultimately falling to then-No. 1 Ohio State in the third round, 3-0, in Columbus.

UCF will look to earn the first win in program history against the Deacons just one season removed from playing to a 1-1 draw with Wake Forest in Orlando Aug. 31, 2024. Then-junior Sora Funakoshi scored his first NCAA Division I goal in the contest.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH THREE | AUG. 27 VS. UTRGV

The Knights’ 2025 home-opener Aug. 27, UCF will return to Orlando to host UT Rio Grande Valley in the Vaqueros’ final season in the WAC before joining the OVC in 2026.

UTRGV last season went 4-7-5 overall, including a 2-3-4 mark within WAC play. Among the team’s non-conference slate was a narrow 3-2 loss to then-No. 16 SMU Sept. 29, a match that saw the Vaqueros nearly complete a three-goal comeback after the Mustangs jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage.

Led by All-WAC Second Team selection Keaviano Francis and All-WAC Freshman Pablo Torre, UTRGV totaled 22 goals from 10 different players and saw sophomore goalkeeper Fernando Carreon post a standout 1.20 goals-against average with 43 saves in his 13 appearances, including 12 starts.

The Knights and Vaqueros have met just once before, with UCF prevailing by a 3-2 final score in a tightly-contested match that required two overtime periods to decide Sept. 8, 2019. Cal Jennings and Andres Hernandez scored the Black and Gold’s two first-half goals, and Yannik Oettl produced four key saves in goal before Yoni Sorokin provided the double overtime game-winner on a 107th minute penalty kick.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH FOUR | AUG. 31 VS. UNC GREENSBORO

UCF will conclude its two-game homestand on August’s final day against the UNC Greensboro Spartans, a squad coming off a dominant 2024 showing that resulted in its regular-season SoCon championship.

The Spartans went unbeaten in all but two matches last year, going 10-2-5 along with a 3-1-1 mark in SoCon play, and produced a pair of draws against ranked teams in then-No. 19 Charlotte Sept. 13 (0-0) and then-No. 5 West Virginia Sept. 17 (2-2).

The Spartans limited the 49ers to just four shots on target at home before matching the Mountaineers on the road with a pair of goals by Mikey Ketteman and All-SoCon First Team selection Arnaud Tattevin.

UNC Greensboro would go unbeaten in eight of its final nine regular-season matches, but fell in penalty kicks to fourth-seeded Furman in the SoCon Tournament opener after playing to a 1-1 draw. For its efforts, the team finished within the top 40 of the NCAA’s final RPI rankings (No. 38).

The contest between the Knights and Spartans will mark the third overall meeting between the programs, and the first since 1997. UCF owns a 1-0-1 record in its previous two matchups with UNC Greensboro.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH FIVE | SEPT. 4 AT SOUTH FLORIDA

A familiar foe from UCF’s days as a member of the American Athletic Conference, the Knights will renew their in-state rivalry with the South Florida Bulls in Tampa Sept. 4.

South Florida produced a 6-6-4 overall record a season ago, accompanied by a 4-3 mark in American Athletic Conference play, taking matches against Eckerd College, UC Irvine, Florida International, Temple, Memphis and UAB.

The Bulls and then-No. 10 Knights (United Soccer Coaches) most recently squared off in Orlando last season, a contest that saw the squads play to a 0-0 draw Sept. 15. This fall, UCF will try for its 11th win against South Florida in the all-time series between the programs.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH SIX | SEPT. 11 VS. JACKSONVILLE

The Black and Gold will play their second straight contest against an in-state foe when they welcome the Jacksonville Dolphins to Orlando Sept. 11, marking UCF’s penultimate non-conference tilt of the season.

The Dolphins authored a 4-6-5 regular season in 2024, including a 2-3-2 record in ASUN conference play. Their first win of the year came on the road in shutout fashion, blanking Dayton by a 3-0 final score before also besting Georgia Southern, Central Arkansas and Lipscomb.

UCF owns a 22-13-4 lead in the all-time series between the two teams, with the programs’ last matchup a convincing 8-1 victory in Orlando Oct. 2, 2018. Four different Knights notched multi-goal showings in the rout, while the Dolphins managed just two shots on goal throughout the evening.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH ONE | SEPT. 19 AT KENTUCKY

The Knights will open 2025 Sun Belt Conference play on the road in Lexington, facing off against the Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky went 6-6-6 overall last season, as well as a 5-3-3 mark in league play, highlighted by a Sun Belt Conference Tournament first-round 1-0 win over South Carolina in Morgantown, West Virginia.

The Wildcats also went unbeaten in their two matchups against then-No. 6 West Virginia Sept. 27 and then-No. 6 Marshall Nov. 1, playing to respective 0-0 and 1-1 draws with the eventual top two Sun Belt squads.

On the strength of Drew Hansen’s first career brace, the Knights recorded a narrow 2-1 victory over Kentucky in the teams’ 2024 meeting in Orlando Oct. 23, and starting goalkeeper Juanvi Muñoz added three saves on the Wildcats’ four shots on goal.

The effort pushed the Knights’ win streak against Kentucky to four straight games, as well as UCF’s unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches. A win over the Wildcats this fall would pull the Knights even with Kentucky in the all-time series between the two programs, as the Wildcats hold a slight 6-5-2 edge entering the 2025 matchup.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH TWO | SEPT. 28 VS. WEST VIRGINIA

The Knights will host the West Virginia Mountaineers to open their home Sun Belt slate, welcoming the reigning 2024 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champions to Orlando.

The Mountaineers in 2024 recorded their fifth double-digit win campaign in their last seven seasons, producing an overall 13-2-7 record while going unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play with a 5-0-4 mark.

West Virginia, hosting one side of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after earning the Sun Belt’s regular-season title with a league-best 19 points, topped Georgia Southern, 3-2, and Kentucky, 2-1, before outlasting the Marshall Thundering Herd in penalty kicks to claim its first Sun Belt Tournament championship.

The team then bested North Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling by a slim 2-1 decision to then-No. 11 Virginia in the second round Nov. 24.

The Knights lead the all-time series against the Mountaineers, 2-1-2, and would record their third win in program history over West Virginia with a victory this fall.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH THREE | OCT. 4 AT SOUTH CAROLINA

A squad that finished tied with UCF and Kentucky for third in the Sun Belt table with 15 points in 2024, South Carolina will host the Knights in their second road conference tilt of the 2025 season.

The Gamecocks last season went 10-5-2 overall, including a 5-4-0 mark in Sun Belt Conference play before falling to the Wildcats in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Nov. 10.

The squad notably played to a 2-2 draw with then-No. 1 Clemson Aug. 30, benefitting from goals by Gabe Nickerson and All-Sun Belt Second Team selection Harrison Myring.

When the two programs met last fall, the Knights notched a convincing 4-0 Senior Night clean sheet against the Gamecocks in Orlando Nov. 1, a contest that saw Lucca Dourado record his first career hat trick and Juanvi Muñoz need just two saves to clinch the shutout. The effort gave UCF its fourth win in program history over South Carolina.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH FOUR | OCT. 10 VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Kicking off the team’s second stretch of consecutive home matches, the Knights will host the Georgia Southern Eagles Oct. 10.

The Eagles last season produced a 6-7-4 overall record in their 17 matches, going 2-5-2 in Sun Belt Conference play. Led by All-Sun Belt selections Harvey Sarajian and Ryan Holmes, the program kicked off its 2024 slate going unbeaten in each of its first seven contests, including wins over FGCU, Stetson, North Florida and the College of Charleston.

UCF this fall will look to build upon its 8-3-0 all-time record against Georgia Southern and gain an edge in the brief series between the two programs as Sun Belt Conference mates. The Knights topped the Eagles by a 2-0 score in the teams’ 2023 matchup before Georgia Southern claimed the meeting, again by a 2-0 decision, last year.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH SEVEN | OCT. 14 VS. BRADLEY

The Black and Gold’s final non-conference match comes in the midst of the squad’s Sun Belt slate, when the team will welcome the Bradley Braves to the UCF Soccer Complex.

Bradley is coming off a 4-8-4 showing in 2024, including a 1-5-2 record in MVC play. The Braves last season earned wins over Chicago State, Western Illinois, Purdue Fort Wayne and Belmont, while also playing to draws against Kentucky and then-No. 9 Western Michigan.

Bradley outscored the Wildcats 2-1 in the second half to earn the 2-2 tie, and Braves goalkeeper Drew Berry made eight saves in shutting out the ninth-ranked Broncos on the road Oct. 26.

The contest this fall will also represent the first meeting between UCF and Bradley.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH FIVE | OCT. 18 AT OLD DOMINION

After playing two straight home matches, the Knights will again hit the road for a tilt with the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 18.

The Monarchs last season went 7-8-2 in their 17 matches, including a 3-5-1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, and met the Knights in Orlando Oct. 18. UCF notched a 2-0 clean sheet donning its Canaveral blue SpaceU kits, behind goals by Lucca Dourado and Mouhamed Pouye and a pair of saves in goal by Juanvi Muñoz.

The effort marked the Knights’ second win in as many opportunities over the Monarchs as conference mates, and UCF will look for its second win in Norfolk in three years this fall to build upon a 3-2-0 all-time record against Old Dominion.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH SIX | OCT. 22 VS. JAMES MADISON

The Knights’ penultimate home match of the regular season, UCF will host the James Madison Dukes Oct. 22. James Madison is coming off an 8-5-6 showing last year, including a 3-3-3 mark within Sun Belt conference play.

The Dukes produced a strong result early in the 2024 campaign, holding then-No. 21 UCLA scoreless on the road in a 0-0 draw, before earning a 1-0 victory over then-No. 14 Georgetown at home Sept. 9.

Their efforts aided the squad in climbing as high as No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches’ seventh and eighth top 25 polls of the season, but the squad would see its season end in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a 1-0 loss to second-seeded Marshall.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH SEVEN | OCT. 26 AT GEORGIA STATE

Following its home tilt with the Dukes, UCF will make the trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for a road matchup with the Georgia State Panthers Oct. 26.

The Knights will meet a Panthers squad that went 4-8-5 a season ago, accompanied by a 1-5-3 Sun Belt Conference mark. Among the positive results accomplished by the squad in 2024, the team went unbeaten in back-to-back contests against then-No. 4 Marshall and James Madison Oct. 27–Nov. 1, first playing to a 3-3 draw with the Thundering Herd on the strength of a three-goal second half before besting the Dukes, 1-0, on the road.

Goals by Alex Smith and Anderson Rosa helped lead the Knights to a 2-1 victory over the Panthers in the teams’ 2024 meeting Sept. 27, clinching UCF’s second win over Georgia State in as many chances as Sun Belt conference mates and pushing the Black and Gold’s all-time record against the Panthers to 9-3-0.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH EIGHT | OCT. 31 VS. COASTAL CAROLINA

The Knights will host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the program’s home finale and penultimate regular-season match Oct. 31.

Coastal Carolina last season went 3-10-3 in its 16 contests throughout the 2024 season, including a 1-5-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play that saw the team notch clean sheets against Georgia State, then-No. 8 James Madison, then-No. 3 Marshall and then-No. 7 West Virginia.

The Chanticleers hosted UCF in the teams’ regular-season finale last fall, a contest that saw the Black and Gold earn a 2-1 victory on the strength of Joey Mueller’s first career goal and an 89th-minute tally by Lucca Dourado. Juanvi Muñoz made a trio of saves in the contest as well.

The Knights’ winning effort boosted their all-time record against the Chanticleers to 4-2-0 as well, having taken both of the programs’ first two meetings as conference mates.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH NINE | NOV. 4 AT MARSHALL

The Black and Gold will make the trip to Huntington, West Virginia, to conclude the regular season with a road clash with the Marshall Thundering Herd at Hoops Family Field.

The 2023 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champion, Marshall finished second in the league table in 2024 with 17 points (4-0-5) and advanced as far as the 2024 College Cup National Championship match, but the squad would fall to the Vermont Catamounts, 2-1, in Cary, North Carolina.

Marshall’s memorable 2024 campaign, during which the team suffered just two defeats with a 15-2-7 overall record, saw the Thundering Herd earn ranked wins over then-No. 22 VCU (1-0), the No. 12 nationally-seeded SMU (3-2), and the NCAA Tournament’s top overall seed Ohio State (1-0).

The Herd was led throughout the fall by MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalists Taimu Okiyoshi and Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos, making Marshall one of three programs in the country with multiple semifinalists for the honor of the nation’s top collegiate player. The team also boasted a trio of All-Sun Belt selections in Okiyoshi and Rodrigues dos Santos (First Team) and Takahiro Fujita (Second Team).

About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.