IRVING, Texas – UCF redshirt freshman midfielder Gabi Berchon has been named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week following a standout performance that included her first collegiate brace and a dramatic game-winning goal against LSU.
Berchon’s two-goal effort helped power the Knights to a thrilling 2-1 victory on Sunday, earning UCF its first weekly conference honor of the season—and the first of Berchon’s collegiate career.
The Porto Alegre, Brazil native helped give UCF an early lead in the match, as she found the back of the net on an assist from Honoka Hamano in the fifth minute. With the game all knotted up at 1-1 and under 30 seconds remaining in the match, Rajanah Reed fed a cross into the box and Berchon fired a shot from the center of the box with 17 seconds to go but LSU’s keeper was there to make the save. The ball then bounced over to Tyra Eriksen and she got off another shot that was again saved, but the ball deflected to Berchon right in front of the goal and she was able to slot it home with 11 seconds remaining for the dramatic game winner.
Other Big 12 weekly award winners this week were Colorado’s Hope Leyba and TCU’s Seven Castain (Offensive), BYU’s Avery Frischknecht (Defensive), and Baylor’s Azul Alvarez and BYU’s Paiton Collins for (Goalkeeper).
The 4-0-0 Knights will head next to Gainesville on Thursday night to face in-state foe Florida. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
WHAT A FINISH FOR UCF 😱
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) August 25, 2025
With seconds left on the clock, Gabi Berchon slots home the winner in a goalmouth scramble to secure the W!! Oh yeah, and a brace!! 😮💨#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @UCF_WSoccer pic.twitter.com/1dOYPmR7DN
