GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rajanah Reed found the back of the net in the 87th minute to propel UCF women’s soccer to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Florida on Thursday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
The victory moves the Knights to a perfect 5-0-0 on the campaign, marking UCF’s best start to a season at the NCAA Division I level. The Knights are also unbeaten in their last six matches against the Gators (2-2-0) with the win.
“5-0 feels great. The team deserves it and has deserved every win that we’ve had,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “We just need to stay confident and humble—not get ahead of ourselves and continue to think about one game at a time.”
Best start in program history ‼️ pic.twitter.com/GUR8KXbxcm
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 29, 2025
With the game scoreless midway through the first half, Liz Worden fed a cross into the box and found Reed in the center of the box. UF’s keeper was able to block Reed’s attempt in the 27th minute. The Gators then had an opportunity in the 33rd minute on a header attempt from Abby Gemma, but Genesis Perez Watson was there to record the save.
Perez Watson finished with five first-half saves, as the game remained scoreless through the first 45 minutes of action.
Early in the second half, Reed fed a cross into the box from the right side and found Honoka Hamano. Hamano’s header attempt missed just high, as she banged it off the crossbar. Tyra Eriksen followed minutes later with a shot from distance that sailed high.
The Gators threatened with a pair of just misses, as the game remained scoreless through 60 minutes of action. Perez Watson later made another impressive save on a shot from distance from UF’s Njeri Butts in the 65th minute to keep the game all knotted up at zero.
Katsi Bengoa followed with a shot that went wide left in the 68th minute. She had another chance in the 77th minute, but Florida’s Jayden Emmanuel was there to make the save.
The freshman Eriksen had a good look for the Black and Gold in the 85th minute, but the shot was again saved.
With the clock approaching three minutes remaining in the match, Guta Franke fed a deep pass over the top to Worden. Worden then deflected it ahead to Reed on the right side of the box and the senior forward was able to drill a late strike into the back of the net to give UCF a late 1-0 advantage. The goal marked Reed’s team-leading third of the year.
87' | Rajanah Reed gives us the late lead ‼️
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 29, 2025
UCF 1, UF 0 pic.twitter.com/ErbjVEAbOJ
Neither side was able to get another shot off over the final three minutes, as the Black and Gold held on for the victory.
Reed and Eriksen led UCF with three shots apiece, while led the way Reed has two on frame. Perez Watson had another solid performance in goal for the Knights, as she finished with her first clean sheet of the season behind a game-high six saves to move to 5-0-0 on the year.
33' | Genesis denies the header attempt 🧤
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) August 28, 2025
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UCF 0, UF 0 pic.twitter.com/pYTK2mzQRP
“It was very nerve-racking tonight. At least we were able to battle and defend in the box,” Roberts Sahaydak added. “We played with so much heart and energy. I’m just really, really proud of the team.”
The 5-0-0 start to a season, not only marks the Black and Gold’s best at the NCAA Division I level, but their first since the program’s inaugural year when the 1981 Knights opened with an unblemished 7-0-0 mark.
The win on Thursday also marked UCF's second straight over an SEC opponent, as it previously defeated LSU by a score of 2-1 last Sunday at home.
The Knights will return to the UCF Soccer Complex to host FIU on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Following the contest, the Black and Gold will head to Jacksonville for their final non-conference game of the season on Sept. 11 against North Florida.