ORLANDO – The UCF women’s soccer team will look to continue its hot start to the season when it welcomes LSU of the SEC to the UCF Soccer Complex on Sunday night.
The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will mark the third and final game of the three-match homestand for the Knights. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available by visiting UCF.Statbroadcast.com. Free Knights hats will be given out to the first 150 fans in attendance.
The Black and Gold will enter Sunday’s contest with an unblemished 3-0-0 record on the season. The 3-0 start matches UCF’s best start since 2003. After opening the year with a 2-1 road victory at UAB last Thursday, the Knights followed things up with back-to-back home victories over in-state foes Florida Atlantic (3-1) and South Florida (4-1).
In Thursday’s most recent outing against the Bulls, four different Knights found the back of the net en route to leading UCF to the victory.
Following a two-hour and 28-minute lightning delay, the Black and Gold opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Tyra Eriksen raced a ball down the left side and crossed a pass to Ella Holloran in the box for the goal to make it 1-0.
With USF having tied the match in the 45th minute, the Knights immediately answered, as Liz Worden passed a through ball ahead to Edidiong Etim and Etim drilled one home from the top of the box with seven seconds remaining in the half to give the Black and Gold a 2-1 advantage.
Ainsley Moy helped UCF extend its lead to 3-1 in the 48th minute when Kalena Bellini found Worden on a throw-in and Worden one-timed a pass to Moy and the sophomore transfer rocketed a shot into the back of the net. The Knights then capped the scoring in the 72nd minute, as Rajanah Reed found the back of the net after following her own rebounded shot.
As a team, UCF outshot USF 12 to eight on the evening as well as six to five with shots on frame. Holloran, Moy and Reed led the way with two shots apiece, while Worden recorded a pair of assists to match a career high.
Genesis Perez Watson recorded a season-high four saves on her way to moving to 3-0-0 in goal on the year.
SEASON LEADERS
Senior forwards Worden and Reed are tied atop the team in goals scored with two goals apiece. After recording a pair of assists on Thursday, Worden also fronts the team in assists with three. She is also tops on the team in points (7), shots (11) and shots on goal (9). Sophomore keeper Perez Watson leads in saves with seven and holds a 3-0-0 record in goal.
ABOUT LSU
The Tigers will come to Orlando on the heels of a 6-1 victory at FGCU in Fort Meyers on Thursday night. LSU holds a 2-1-0 record on the young season with wins over Florida Gulf Coast and South Alabama, as well as 1-0 setback at No. 10 Wake Forest last Sunday. The Tigers posted a 9-9-3 record a season ago and an 11th-place finish in the SEC with a 3-5-2 conference mark en route to qualifying for their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament. LSU was picked to finish 11th in the SEC this season.
LSU had seven players named to the 2025 SEC Preseason Watchlist in Sydney Cheesman, Jazmin Ferguson, Makenna Dominguez, Ava Galligan, Ida Hermannsdottir, Gabbi Ceballos and Amy Smith. Galligan, who was tabbed to the 2023 All-SEC Second Team, leads the way this season with a trio of goals and six points. Jazmin Feguson fronts the squad in assists with two, while Sophine Kevokian leads in goal with six saves.
The Tigers are coached by Sian Hudson. Hudson is in her sixth season in Baton Rouge and holds a 48-38-18 record at LSU.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. LSU
Sunday's match against LSU will mark the fifth all-time contest between the Knights and Tigers. In four previous meetings, UCF holds a 1-1-2 record. The Black and Gold's victory in the series came on Oct. 15, 2017, when the then-No. 8 Knights defeated the Tigers 4-0 in Baton Rouge. LSU returned the favor with a 2-0 win in the lone previous meeting in Orlando (Aug. 29, 2021).
HOT START
The Knights will enter Sunday’s home match against LSU off to a 3-0-0 start to the 2025 campaign. The 3-0 record marks the Black and Gold’s best start since 2003.
UCF has outscored the opposition 9-3 on the young season and senior forwards Liz Worden and Rajanah Reed are tied for the team lead in goals with two apiece. With two assists on Thursday against USF, Worden now fronts the team in assists with three. She also it tops on the squad in points (7), shots (12) and shots on goal (9).
With a win on Sunday against LSU, the Black and Gold would be off to 4-0-0 start to a season for the first time since 2002.
UP NEXT FOR UCF
The Knights will next hit the road for a Thursday night match at Florida. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. at UF’s Dizney Stadium and will air live on SEC Network+. Following Thursday’s match at Florida, the Black and Gold will come home to host fellow in-state foe FIU on Thursday, Sept. 4.