WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The squad staged a late rally, but the UCF men’s soccer team was edged in the conclusion of its season-opening two-game North Carolina road trip, 2-1, by the No. 6 Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Spry Stadium Sunday night.
Though the Knights battled through a slow offensive start to the contest, they found their footing throughout the final 45 minutes of the match, outshooting Wake Forest 10-7 with seven shots on goal in the second half.
Senior goalkeeper Juanvi Muñoz was brilliant in his second showing of the young campaign as well, making five saves, including four in the first half, to keep his team in the match throughout the night.
The Valencia, Spain native’s five Sunday saves also marked his highest single-game total since he contributed five saves in UCF’s 3-2 double-overtime NCAA Tournament loss to Vermont in Orlando Nov. 19, 2023, as well as his 10th career match with at least five.
After the Deacons brought a 9-4 advantage in shots into the halftime break with the match still scoreless, UCF gained a bit more offensive momentum, matching Wake Forest’s four second half-opening shots with four of its own courtesy of Lilian Ricol, Sora Funakoshi, Malick Thiaw and Kenn Muendo.
Though the Deacons later netted their two scores in the game’s final 15 minutes, the Black and Gold continued their offensive pressure, tallying the match’s last five shots before Muendo cleaned up a rebound off the Wake Forest goalkeeper after he couldn’t corral a Claudel N’goubou attempt on goal.
The score marked Muendo’s first at the Division I level after the Lindsey Wilson transfer scored four times in his previous two seasons with the Blue Raiders.
Muendo’s goal also marked the second in UCF’s first two games scored by a Knights newcomer, as Ricol netted his team’s first score of the new season in UCF’s season-opener at North Carolina Aug. 21.
UP NEXT
UCF looks to clinch its first win of the season in its 2025 home-opener against UT Rio Grande Valley, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
TICKETS
UCF men’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.