ORLANDO – As a team that featured 17 new faces entering the season has continued to find its on-field chemistry, camaraderie and rhythm with each passing week, the results have begun piling up.
"We’ve had big players step up the whole way."
Joey MuellerRedshirt JuniorWednesday evening, it was the Black and Gold’s leading goal-scorer, junior Lilian Ricol, who produced the most prolific offensive display by a Knight this year.
The French forward powered UCF to its sixth victory of the season and fourth in its last five matches with his first career hat trick, leading the Knights to a gritty 3-2 victory over the visiting James Madison Dukes at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The team’s latest result, its fifth straight without suffering a loss, pushed the Knights (6-5-2, 3-2-1 Sun Belt) north of .500 overall and in Sun Belt Conference play for the first time this season, a remarkable turnaround on its 2-5-1 start through eight contests.
The winning effort also catapulted the Knights ahead of both No. 20 Georgia Southern and Georgia State, which both suffered Wednesday defeats, and into fourth place in the Sun Belt table with 10 points and a 3-2-1 record in league play.
"That feels great, and Clarence said it afterward, the guys have to be proud of how they responded. It was a difficult run for us, and it’s encouraging because we can keep going and continue to improve. We have the group to do it, and they’re excited to do it."
Scott CalabreseHead coachRicol’s hat trick, the team’s first this season, the 42nd in program history and UCF’s first since Lucca Dourado’s senior night display against South Carolina Nov. 1, 2024, highlighted a strong all-around evening for the Paris, France, native, who had multiple chances for a fourth score and completed his evening with a season high-tying four shots on goal.
His five total shot attempts marked his second most in a match this season as well, trailing only his Sun Belt Conference single-game best seven against then-No. 22 South Florida Sept. 4.
“He was in the right place at the right time, every time,” Mueller said of his teammate.
His first goal of the evening came in just the 11th minute of play, when the James Madison keeper mishandled a Frederic Benedix shot from the near side.
Ricol, whose momentum already took him into the direction of the Dukes netminder, quickly redirected the ball in to give his team the early advantage.
The forward netted his second score just minutes later, on the receiving end of a pair of accurate passes from Mueller and Gwendal Degorce that set Ricol up right in front of the Dukes keeper in the 18th minute. His second score secured the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career as well.
After James Madison drew up a response with its first goal of the night in the 28th minute, Ricol potted the eventual game-winner and his third goal of the game in the 49th minute. It again was Degorce who kickstarted UCF’s third scoring play of the night, sending a feed ahead for Clarence Awoudor just above the 18-yard box.
The Saint-Lo, France, native brought the ball in for a pace before giving way to a crashing Ricol, who scored in an open net on a quick redirect shot.
The two assists by Degorce represented the first two points of his collegiate career, while Awoudor, who entered the evening already leading the nation in assists, tacked on his 12th of the fall.
“Lilian was excellent in front of goal tonight,” Calabrese continued. “I’m really happy for him, he’s got confidence and he’s in rhythm with the other players who were able to find him. The relationships between those attacking players are getting better.”
UP NEXT
UCF will look to continue riding its momentum into its penultimate road contest of the regular season at Georgia State Sunday evening. Kickoff from the GSU Soccer Complex in Atlanta, Georgia, is set for 7 p.m. 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.