ORLANDO – The UCF women’s soccer team will look to continue its winning ways on Thursday when it heads to Gainesville to face in-state foe Florida.
Thursday’s match will begin at 7 p.m. at UF’s Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The contest will air live on SEC Network+ and live stats will be available by visiting UCF.Statbroadcast.com.
The Knights will enter Thursday off to their best start to a season since 2002 with an unblemished 4-0-0 record. After defeating UAB on the road in the season opener (2-1), the Black and Gold then went a perfect 3-0 over a three-match homestand with wins over Sunshine State opponents Florida Atlantic (3-1) and South Florida (4-1), as well as LSU of the SEC by a score of 2-1.
With Sunday’s match all tied up at 1-1 with the clock winding down against LSU, Rajanah Reed fed a cross into the box and Gabi 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-winning goal.
The redshirt freshman Berchon scored both goals for the Black and Gold in the match, as she also found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal on an assist from Honoka Hamano in the fifth minute. Berchon’s two-goal effort helped power the Knights to the thrilling victory and marked the first brace of her college career. She was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week earlier on Wednesday for her performance.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson also had a strong performance for UCF against the Tigers by recording a season-high five saves. Hamano and Eriksen each recorded an assist, and Reed led the way in shots with a game-high five.
Over four games on the season, the Black and Gold have outscored the opposition 11 to four. UCF will enter Thursday with a perfect 2-0 record on the year against fellow Sunshine State opponents.
SEASON LEADERS
With the brace on Sunday, Berchon is now tied for the team lead in goals with two along with senior forwards Reed and Liz Worden. The newcomer Worden has had a strong 2025 campaign so far, as she also fronts the team in assists with three, points with seven, shots with 15, and shots on goal with nine. Perez Watson leads the way in goal with 12 saves on the year.
ABOUT FLORIDA
The Gators will enter Thursday’s match with a 2-1-0 record on the year. After falling to No. 3 Florida State on the road in its season opener, Florida responded with home wins over Towson and North Florida last week. The Gators went 4-8-6 overall and finished 15th in the SEC last year with a 1-7-2 league mark. UF was picked to finish 14th in the SEC this season in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.
Katie Johnston and Njeri Butts lead Florida on the season with a pair of goals apiece. Johnston is also tied for the team lead in assists with two with teammate Addy Hess, and Johnston also paces the team in points with six. Lena Bailey and Tatum O'Coyne are tied atop the team in shots with six. Jayden Emmanuel leads the way in goal for the Gators with seven saves. Emmanuel, Hess, Johnston, as well as Abby Gemma Megan Hinnenkamp, Madison Jones, Charlotte McClure, Paloma Pena, Sophia Sindelar and Kai Tsakiris were all named to the 2025 SEC Soccer Preseason Watchlist prior to the season.
The Gators are coached by Samantha Bohon. Bohon is in her fourth season at the helm of Florida and holds a 14-28-13 record at UF.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. FLORIDA
Thursday's match against Florida will mark the 27th all-time contest between the in-state foes. The Gators will enter holding to a 14-10-2 all-time series advantage, but the Knights have gone 4-0-1 over the last five meetings, which includes a 2-2 draw in Gainesville last season. All-time, UCF is 6-7-2 with matches played in Gainesville.
HOT START
The Knights will enter Thursday’s match against Florida off to a 4-0-0 start to the 2025 campaign. The 4-0 record marks the Black and Gold’s best start since 2002 and just the third time in program history that UCF has achieved the feat.
UCF opened the season with a 2-1 victory on the road at UAB and followed it up with a trio of home victories over in-state foes Florida Atlantic (3-1) and South Florida (4-1), as well as SEC foe LSU last Sunday (2-1).
A win for UCF on Thursday against Florida, would mark the Black and Gold's best start in program history at the NCAA Division I level with a perfect 5-0 mark.
BERCHON TABBED BIG 12 FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
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.
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. The weekly conference honor marked UCF's first of the year and also the first of the career for Berchon.
Your Big 12 Freshman of the Week 👏👏
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 27, 2025
📰 https://t.co/1Genyht4m5 pic.twitter.com/yF3ziJV4yT
UP NEXT FOR UCF
Following Thursday’s match, the Knights will return home to face another in-state foe when FIU visits the UCF Soccer Complex on Thursday, Sept. 4.