ORLANDO – Fueled by a healthy mix of its solid returning corps and a 12-man newcomer class, the UCF men’s soccer team is set to commence its fall 2026 campaign.
On the heels of a 2025 slate that saw the Knights overcome a slow start and finish the year as one of the hottest teams in college soccer, the Black and Gold eye similar postseason success to its conclusion a year ago, when UCF won three consecutive matchups away from home to claim the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament title.
“It’s an exciting group. I’m excited about our really good core of returning players, most of whom play on the back line. Last season gave them confidence, and fighting through the beginning of the year was difficult. They kept engaging in the right process, and then we kept getting better.”
Scott CalabreseHead coachFull Fall Sports Media Day Press Conference - Scott Calabrese
STURDY FOUNDATION
The Knights enjoyed their most successful season since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2025, authoring the fourth double-digit win campaign in the Scott Calabrese era en route to the first Sun Belt Conference championship and the eighth overall conference title in program history.
After beginning the season with a 2-5-1 record through their first eight matches and wins over only Jacksonville and UTRGV, a trip to Columbia, South Carolina represented a pivotal turning point.
The Knights authored a 2-0 clean sheet triumph over the Gamecocks that kickstarted a 9-2-2 run through the program’s final 13 games, a stretch that featured a top 15 win in Orlando over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern and a 3-0 showing in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament that included wins over top-seeded No. 19 Kentucky and third-seeded No. 12 Marshall.
UCF’s three ranked wins represented a single-season program record, and its Sun Belt Championship match victory over the Thundering Herd represented the Knights’ first win over Marshall since joining the Sun Belt and the Herd’s first loss on their home turf since Nov. 26, 2023, a span of 721 days.
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
As announced by the conference office Aug. 12, UCF saw three Knights tabbed to the Sun Belt’s preseason All-Conference team, including a pair of major award selections.
Goalkeeper Matisse Hébert, who joined the Black and Gold after a pair of seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, garnered preseason Goalkeeper of the Year recognition, while former Marshall standout defender Takahiro Fujita claimed his second consecutive preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor. The pair were joined on the preseason All-Sun Belt Team by returning sophomore defender Jem Hewlett.
A three-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week winner, Hébert appeared in 28 matches, including 23 starts, and compiled an aggregate 1.20 goals-against average and a .656 save percentage while earning 13 wins for the Badgers.
Fujita won a pair of Sun Belt titles in three years with the Thundering Herd, having appeared in 55 total matches. In 2025, he aided Marshall’s efforts in limiting its opposition to two or fewer goals in 12 of his 13 appearances, one or fewer goals on nine occasions, and five clean sheets.
Hewlett enters his second season donning the Black and Gold after representing a key component in the Knights’ 2025 second-half turnaround and run to the Sun Belt Tournament title. The Bristol, England, native appeared in 20 of UCF’s 21 matches, scoring a pair of goals and adding his first career assist while totaling 12 shot attempts and four on goal.
In addition to the Black and Gold’s three preseason All-Sun Belt picks, the Knights were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt’s preseason coaches’ poll with one first-place vote, coming in just behind West Virginia and Marshall.
THE RETURNERS
Hewlett, also a 2025 postseason All-Sun Belt Freshman Team pick, leads UCF’s class of 15 returners, a group that is also highlighted by 2026 MLS SuperDraft selection Joey Mueller, redshirt junior forward Drew Hansen and junior defender Gwendal Degorce.
Mueller, after completing a 2025 season that saw him take another step forward in on-field workload and contributions, was selected by New York City FC in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft 2026. He set new single-season career bests in goals (2) and assists (3), while also registering season highs in shot attempts (25) and shots on goal (10).
Hansen returns for his third season on the pitch after representing one of UCF’s best late-season performers a year ago. The Cleveland, North Carolina, native matched his previous season high with three goals scored, two of which came in helping lead UCF to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title.
He first found the back of the net in the 104th minute of the Knights’ 3-2 come-from-behind double overtime win over fourth-seeded Georgia Southern Nov. 9, and later netted his second straight game-winner in the 50th minute of UCF’s 1-0 clean sheet win over top-seeded Kentucky Nov. 12.
In doing so, Hansen became the first Knight since 2021 to score a postseason game-winner in back-to-back games, and his tally against the Wildcats helped lift UCF to the first win over a top seed in a conference tournament in program history.
“I’m excited to see some players step up. There are some players who played roles where maybe they weren’t getting as many minutes, who are going to get big minutes. They’re going to have to go from being a player who really helped, to being a player who is relied on. I’m excited to see some growth into new roles. You saw that with Joey last year, where after years of work, Joey took a big step. That big step led to a really good year, which then led to someone drafting Joey. Now he wanted to take another big step.”
Scott CalabreseHead coachDegorce anchored the Knights’ back line throughout his second collegiate season, appearing in a career high 21 matches while registering his first two career assists, both of which came in UCF’s 3-2 win over James Madison Oct. 22.
Also returning from the Black and Gold’s 2025 squad are goalkeeper Timo Haböck, midfielders Younes Boudinar, Seiryu Ono (2025 All-Sun Belt Freshman Team), Petter Wingsternaes, Abraham Monsee, Izán Martínez, Finn Calloway and Kenn Muendo, and defenders Gabi Velez, Mateus Dejesus and Timothy Arias.
THE NEWCOMERS
Spearheaded by Hébert and Fujita, UCF brings a class of 12 newcomers into the new season, a group that boasts tremendous international playing experience.
The Knights newcomer corps, in addition to Hébert and Fujita, includes sophomore defender Leny Jérôme, freshman forward/midfielder Alex Partera, sophomore midfielder Joachim Kyei, sophomore defender Hugo Vogel, senior midfielder Hugo Vien, freshman forward/midfielder Erik Vázquez, freshman midfielder Sena Yamamoto, freshman goalkeeper Kai Longanecker, junior defender Germán Moreno, and freshman forward Alex Naranjo.
Kyei joins the Knights after appearing in 20 matches with 19 starts for the Daytona State Falcons during the 2025 season. He totaled five goals and eight assists for 18 points, with his assist and point totals ranking first in conference play. He also recorded 45 shots and converted his lone penalty attempt.
He helped guide the Falcons to the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship final, where Daytona State finished as national runner-up following a 1–0 defeat to Indian Hills. The Accra, Ghana native earned United Soccer Coaches All-East Region XI recognition and NJCAA All-Tournament Team honors for his efforts throughout the year.
Vázquez, a native of Begur, Girona, Spain, brings a strong international resume to Orlando, highlighted by a stint served with Real Madrid’s U17-U19 teams from 2023-25. He also previously saw time with Girona FC’s U19 team, CD Tudelano and SD Ejea before relocating to the United States.
Naranjo, like Kyei, joins UCF from within the state of Florida, most recently playing a two-year stint with the USL Championship’s Miami FC in 2025 and 2026. He appeared in 11 matches for his hometown squad over the last two seasons, and also saw time with Miami during the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup.
A product of Lycée la hotoie school in Amiens, France, Jérôme most recently saw international action in the Championnat National 2 during the 2025-26 season, during which his team finished seventh and reached the round of 32 in the finals of the Coupe de France. He was also previously a member of the 2024-25 Championnat National 3 championship team, an effort that aided in securing his promotion.
THE SCHEDULE
We can't wait to welcome you back to the Kingdom this fall!
— UCF Men's Soccer (@UCF_MSoccer) August 4, 2026
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After playing a program single-season high 10 ranked opponents in 2025, Calabrese and his staff have compiled another strong slate for their squad this fall.
The Knights kick off their season with a tilt against Boston U. at home Aug. 20 before embarking on a pair of rivalry matchups against in-state foes. UCF will clash with its 2025 NCAA Tournament first-round foe, Florida Atlantic, on the road Aug. 23, before returning home Aug. 28 for a renewal of its series with a South Florida Bulls squad that climbed into the national top 25 rankings last season.
The Knights’ fourth matchup of the year represents one of its largest of the season, when UCF will play host for the Clemson Tigers. The meeting will be the first for the teams since the Knights shocked the then-No. 9 Tigers, 2-1, in Clemson to kick off the 2023 season. The effort boosted the Black and Gold into the national 25, and the squad weeks later would claim the first No. 1 national ranking in a regular-season poll in UCF Athletics history.
A road matchup with VCU Sept. 11 helps round out the Knights’ non-conference schedule, and UCF will later host two conference opponents in back-to-back games that the Knights bested in claiming the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament crown, Kentucky (Sept. 27) and Marshall (Oct. 3).
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.