ORLANDO – Off to a 2-0 start to the young season, the UCF women’s soccer team will continue a three-match homestand by hosting rival South Florida on Thursday night.
The match will begin at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats can also be followed for the contest by visiting UCF.Statbroadcast.com. UCF students that attend the game will receive free pizza while supplies last.
The Knights are off to a 2-0-0 start after defeating UAB 2-1 on the road in the season opener last Thursday as well as in-state foe Florida Atlantic 3-1 in the home opener on Sunday.
Following a three-hour and 15-minute lightning delay on Sunday, the Black and Gold offense didn’t waste any time getting things going as freshman Tyra Eriksen found the back of the net in the 23rd minute to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Eriksen drilled home a rebounded shot from teammate Gabi Berchon for Eriksen’s first collegiate goal.
UCF then made it 2-0 in the 31st minute, as Ella Holloran and Liz Worden found Honoka Hamano open in the center of the box. The goal marked the fifth goal of Hamano’s career. Both Holloran and Worden were credited with assists on the play.
Holding to the 2-0 advantage in the second half, UCF added a third goal in the 63rd minute when Jada Silvest fed a beautiful through ball over the top to Worden and the senior forward managed to beat FAU’s keeper for an easy goal. The goal marked Worden’s second of the season put the Knights up 3-0.
FAU managed to punch in a late goal in the 85th minute to make it 3-1.
Despite allowing the late goal, UCF dominated the contest with 19 shots to FAU’s five and 12 shots on goal to just one from Florida Atlantic. The Knights also held possession for 60% of the game. Genesis Perez Watson was credited with her second win of the season in goal after playing the full 90 minutes in the box.
SEASON LEADERS
The senior Worden leads UCF on the season in goals with two, as she’s found the back of the net in each of the Black and Gold’s first two matches. She also fronts the team in points (five), shots (11), and shots on goal (nine). Redshirt freshman midfielder Berchon paces the team in assists with two. Perez Watson leads in saves with three.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA
The Bulls will make the trek across I-4 to Orlando with a 1-1-0 record on the year. USF opened with a 1-0 victory at Furman last Thursday, before dropping a 3-1 match at No. 21 South Carolina on Sunday. South Florida had a solid season a year ago in which it finished 12-2-5 overall and took second in the American Conference with a 6-1-3 league mark. The Bulls were picked to finish second in the American Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll earlier this month.
Reigning American Conference Midfielder of the Year Sadie Sider-Echenberg is tied for the team lead in goals for USF on the season with one. Teammate Mia Rodach is tied with her atop the team in goals with one while Hedda Ornberg is leading the way in assists with one. Reigning American Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Leire Herraez Gallach paces the team in saves with seven. Both Sider-Echenberg and Herraez Gallach were recently named to the 2025 American Women’s Soccer Watch List.
USF is coached by second-year head coach Chris Brown. Brown holds a 13-3-5 record at South Florida and a 81-44-21 overall career record over eight seasons.
ALL-TIME HISTORY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA
UCF will enter Thursday's clash against South Florida with a 13-7-4 all-time series advantage against the Bulls. In what will mark the 25th meeting between the rivals, the Knights have won two of the last three contests and hold a commanding 8-1-3 record against USF at home. Coach Roberts Sahaydak is 6-6-4 in her career versus South Florida.
THREE STRAIGHT MATCHES AGAINST AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOES
Thursday's game against South Florida will mark the third and final of three straight matches for UCF against American Conference foes. The Knights opened on the road against UAB and recorded a 2-1 victory. The Black and Gold followed that up with a 3-1 victory over in-state opponent Florida Atlantic in UCF's home opener on Sunday. The Knights will conclude the stretch with a rivalry match against South Florida on Thursday night.
The three contents will mark a trio of familiar opponents for the Black and Gold, as it has played the three opponents a combined 62 times in the past.
HOT START
The Knights will enter Thursday’s home match against South Florida off to a 2-0-0 start to the 2025 campaign. UCF opened the season with a 2-1 victory on the road at UAB last Thursday and followed it up with a 3-1 victory in the home opener over in-state foe Florida Atlantic last Sunday.
UCF has outscored the opposition 5-2 on the young season and senior forward Liz Worden is leading the way offensively with two goals and five points. She also has an assist on the year. Redshirt freshman midfielder Gabi Berchon leads the way in assists with two. With a win on Thursday against USF, the Black and Gold would be off to 3-0-0 start to a season for the first time since 2003.
UP NEXT FOR UCF
The Knights will close the homestand by welcoming LSU of the SEC to the UCF Soccer Complex on Sunday. Sunday’s match is set for a 7 p.m. start. Following the LSU match, the Black and Gold will head to Gainesville to face Florida on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
UCF WOMEN'S SOCCER PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED
TICKETS
UCF women’s soccer season and single-game tickets are on sale now. Please visit ucfknights.com/tickets for more information or call the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
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.