Men's Soccer Sees Four Represented in Post-Season All-Sun Belt Honors

ORLANDO – As announced by the league office Friday afternoon, the UCF men’s soccer team saw four members recognized in the Sun Belt Conference’s 2025 post-season all-conference honors.

Leading the charge is junior forward Lilian Ricol, who garnered Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year recognition in addition to landing on the All-Sun Belt First Team. He is joined on the All-Sun Belt First Team by senior midfielder Clarence Awoudor, while freshmen Jem Hewlett (defender) and Seiryu Ono (forward) both earned spots on the All-Sun Belt Freshman Team.

Ricol’s selection as the league’s newcomer of the year, meanwhile, represents the second time in UCF’s first three seasons in the Sun Belt that the program has produced the conference newcomer of the year, after Awoudor earned the honors following his first season donning the Black and Gold in 2023.

Ricol also brings home the Knights’ fourth overall major award since the program joined the Sun Belt in 2023, joining Awoudor (2023 Newcomer of the Year), head coach Scott Calabrese (2023 Coach of the Year), and then-freshman Saku Heiskanen (2023 Freshman of the Year).

With each of Ricol, Awoudor, Hewlett and Ono earning postseason recognition, UCF has now seen 12 members of the program recognized in the league’s postseason all-conference voting over the last three seasons as well.

LILIAN RICOL – NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR, ALL-SUN BELT FIRST TEAM

Ricol in his first season in Orlando gave the Knights' offensive efforts an immediate jolt, leading the team in goals scored (9) and producing 20 points, second on the squad only to national assist leader Clarence Awoudor.

Ricol totaled 40 shot attempts throughout the season, including 24 on target, and added his first two career game-winning goals as well. He recorded his first career goal against the North Carolina Tar Heels on the road in the teams' Aug. 21 season-opener, and assisted UCF's lone goal in its 1-1 draw with then-No. 22 South Florida on the road Sept. 4.

Six of his nine goals this season came in conference play, highlighted by his first career hat trick against James Madison Oct. 22. He also netted the game-winner in UCF's 3-0 shutout win over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern Oct. 10 and scored one of the Knights' two tallies against 2025 Sun Belt regular-season champion Kentucky on the road Sept. 19.

He finished the season ranking among Sun Belt Conference leaders in goals per game (0.60, 2nd), shot accuracy (.622, 2nd), shots on goal per game (1.53, T-2nd), total goals (9, T-2nd), points per game (1.33, 3rd), total points (20, 4th), and shot attempts per game (2.47, 5th).

CLARENCE AWOUDOR – ALL-SUN BELT FIRST TEAM

Awoudor enjoyed a breakout senior campaign, producing single-season career bests in goals scored (5), assists (13), shot attempts (46), and shots on goal (23) in his 16 matches throughout the regular season. His 13 assists not only represented the most among any player in NCAA Division I soccer, but also set a new single-season program record as well.

Eleven of his 13 assists came during conference play, and he recorded at least one point in 11 of his 16 matches, as well as at multiple points in eight of his 16 matches.

Awoudor notched five multi-assist showings overall, two of which came in Sun Belt Conference play. He recorded back-to-back multi-assist showings in helping lead the Knights to consecutive shutout wins over South Carolina (2-0, Oct. 4) and then-No. 11 Georgia Southern (3-0, Oct. 10). He also registered his first career brace in helping lead the Knights to a 3-1 win over Coastal Carolina Oct. 31.

In addition to finishing the season as the nation’s overall assist leader, the Saint-Lo, France, native also ranked among conference leaders in points per game (1.53, 2nd), total points (23, 2nd), shots per game (3.07, 2nd), shots on goal per game (1.53, T-2nd), shot accuracy (.500, 4th), and total goals (5, T-10th).

JEM HEWLETT – ALL-SUN BELT FRESHMAN TEAM

Hewlett proved a vital component to the Knights' defense throughout his freshman campaign this fall, appearing in 15 of UCF's 16 matches while playing the full 90 minutes 11 times.

He aided the Knights in allowing two or fewer goals in 14 of their 16 regular-season matches this fall, including one or fewer goals allowed in 10 matches and four clean sheets. He also played 89 of the full 90 minutes as UCF produced a shutout win over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern Oct. 10, marking the program's first clean sheet against a ranked opponent since 2021.

Offensively, Hewlett tallied the first two goals of his collegiate career in UCF's 2-0 win over Jacksonville Sept. 11, marking the freshman's first career brace. He produced an assist on Lilian Ricol's game-opening score at North Carolina Aug. 21 as well, representing his first career point.

SEIRYU ONO – ALL-SUN BELT FRESHMAN TEAM

Ono proved his worth as a key contributor for the Knights throughout his freshman 2025 campaign, appearing in 13 total matches and eclipsing 30 minutes played on three occasions.

He played a season high 42 minutes in UCF's 4-0 win over UTRGV Aug. 27, a match during which he netted his first collegiate goal and added his first two shot attempts.

He also added shot attempts in UCF's 2-0 win at South Carolina Oct. 4, the Knights' 3-0 win over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern Oct. 10, and the team's 3-2 win over James Madison Oct. 22.

UP NEXT
Ricol, Awoudor, Hewlett and Ono will lead their squad into postseason action, as the UCF men's soccer team will commence play in the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Championship with a first-round tilt against fourth-seeded Georgia Southern.

Kickoff from the Kentucky Wildcats' Bell Soccer Complex is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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.