ORLANDO – Just days removed from the team’s non-conference finale against Bradley Tuesday evening, the UCF men’s soccer team will return to action and resume Sun Belt Conference play on the road against the Old Dominion Monarchs Saturday evening.
The Knights most recently authored their most dominant victory of the season, routing the Bradley Braves, 5-1, at the UCF Soccer Complex Oct. 14. The team’s five goals scored marked a season high, and the most scored by the Black and Gold in a single match since their 5-1 rout of UC Irvine Sept. 6, 2024.
They did it on the strength of a 27-3 shot advantage, including a 12-2 margin in shots on goal. UCF’s 27 shot attempts marked its highest single-game total since the squad attempted 28 against seventh-seeded South Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference tournament Nov. 5, 2023, while its 12 shots on target represented its second game in double digits this season and its most in a single match since their aforementioned four-goal win over the Anteaters last fall.
Five different Knights found the back of the net throughout Tuesday’s comfortable victory, in Clarence Awoudor, Lilian Ricol, Drew Hansen, Younes Boudinar and Malick Thiaw. Ricol’s seventh-minute tally served as his team-leading fifth of the season, while Awoudor highlighted his second career four-point evening with his fifth career game-winning goal in the 33rd minute.
Hansen, meanwhile, netted his first goal of the season and fourth of his career in the 45th minute of play, and Boudinar scored his first career goal with a well-placed strike off a free kick in the 53rd minute. Thiaw punctuated UCF’s offensive contributions with his season high-tying third goal of the year in the 56th minute.
In addition to scoring his third goal of the campaign, Awoudor became the first player in NCAA Division I soccer to eclipse double-digit assists in recording his third consecutive multi-assist match and fifth of the season.
His 11 assists lead the nation entering play Friday, and he also ranks among Sun Belt leaders in shots per game (2.82, 2nd), points per game (1.55, 3rd), and total points (17, 3rd).
Senior goalkeeper Juanvi Muñoz made one save on the Braves’ lone two shots on goal during the match as well, recording his seventh match of the year with one or fewer goals allowed, lowering his season goals-against average to 1.18 with 31 saves through his first 11 contests.
Muñoz enters Saturday’s tilt at Old Dominion in sole possession of seventh place on the UCF all-time career goals-against average list, and with his fifth shutout of the season would match Didier Mendard (1989-93) for eighth on the program’s all-time list (12).
The Knights enter their latest matchup with the Monarchs with a 3-2-0 edge in five all-time meetings between the programs, including an undefeated 2-0-0 mark as Sun Belt Conference mates.
UCF has yielded just a single goal between its first two contests against Old Dominion, matchups the Knights have won by 2-1 and 2-0 final scores in Norfolk and Orlando, respectively. Former Knights great Lucca Dourado was responsible for both goals in UCF’s 2-1 road win Oct. 14, 2023, and also scored the game-winner in the teams’ 2024 contest in Orlando Oct. 18.
The Monarchs bring a 5-4-3 record into Saturday’s tilt, including a 1-2-1 mark through four matches in Sun Belt play. Old Dominion is coming off a convincing 10-0 home victory over Regent Oct. 14, highlighted by multi-goal showings by Micah Wayland, Kolby Godbolt and Barrett Saul.
Monarchs leading scorer Lewis Rourke also netted his fifth goal of the season in the 90th minute and brings a season total of 13 points into Saturday’s tilt.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from ODU Soccer Complex in Norfolk, Virginia, and 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.