ORLANDO – Riding the momentum of a four-game unbeaten streak, the UCF men’s soccer team returns home this Wednesday, Oct. 22, to face the James Madison Dukes in a Sun Belt Conference clash at the UCF Soccer Complex.
After winning three consecutive games for the first time since the 2023 season, the Knights (5-5-2, 2-2-1 SBC) settled for a 1-1 draw on the road against the Old Dominion Monarchs Saturday, Oct. 18 at the ODU Soccer Complex in Virginia.
The Black and Gold’s lone goal Saturday evening came from the feet of senior Malick Thiaw, finishing off a Frederic Benedix assist after a superb run down the left-hand side.
The Marseille, France, native set a personal single season career-high in goals with his fourth tally of the season, surpassing his previous best of three with the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2024.
Senior goalkeeper Juanvi Muñoz delivered yet another strong performance, tallying five saves against the Monarchs. Muñoz also recorded his 150th career save, moving up to tenth place all-time in UCF history.
The Saturday evening contest marked the fifth straight game in which Muñoz and the Knights conceded one goal or fewer, a feat not accomplished since the 2023 season. The Valencia, Spain native lowered his season goals-against average to 1.17, good for seventh best in program history.
The Knights go into the match with seven points through their first five Sun Belt matches, good for sixth position in the conference thus far. Meanwhile, their next opponents, the James Madison Dukes (1-8-3, 0-4-1 SBC), sit in ninth position in the Sun Belt with a lone point after a 1-1 draw on the road against Georgia St. on Oct. 10.
JMU carries a three-match win streak over the Knights, dating back to UCF’s debut season in the Sun Belt in 2023. The most recent meeting came in the first round of the 2024 Sun Belt Championship, when the Dukes defeated the Knights 2-1.
The Harrisonburg, Virginia, side is led by sophomore forward Diego Ossa, who has two goals this season, and sophomore goalkeeper Erik Jaspers, who leads the Sun Belt in saves per game at 4.63, having tallied 37 stops in eight appearances this season.
Jaspers played a key role in the Dukes’ 1-1 draw on Oct. 14 against the Princeton Tigers, the No. 1 team in the NCAA RPI and then No. 5 on the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Saratoga Springs, Utah, native set a career high in saves with eight and the second-highest single-game mark in the Sun Belt this season, helping snap Princeton’s eight-game win streak.
Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex 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.