ORLANDO – The UCF men’s soccer team has announced the addition of former Division II All-American forward Christian Hatley to its 2026 fall roster.
Hatley, the owner of 29 goals and 21 assists across 72 career matches in Division II soccer, joins the Black and Gold on the heels of, most recently, a standout three-year tenure with Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Throughout his time with the Bearcats, he garnered one CCA All-America distinction, two CCA All-Southeast Region First Team selections, one Peach Belt Offensive Player of the Year nod, three Peach Belt All-Conference honors, and one Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team selection.
He netted 26 goals and added 18 assists in three seasons with Lander, highlighted by a 2023 All-America campaign that saw the Nottingham, England, native score a Peach Belt-leading 15 goals and record a trio of helpers.
The forward found the back of the net in each of Lander’s final six contests, including three braces in that span, and scored in 12 of the Bearcats’ 18 games overall. Six of his 15 goals in 2025 represented game-winning scores, good for tops in the Peach Belt and second most in Division II soccer overall.
In addition to his CCA All-America Third Team selection, Hatley also garnered CCA All-Southeast Region First Team recognition and an All-Peach Belt Conference First Team nod for his efforts in 2023.
He followed his All-America campaign with a solid showing for the Bearcats in 2024, netting four goals and adding a pair of assists in 17 matches, and in 2025, Hatley scored seven more times while producing a Peach Belt-leading 13 assists, good for second most in Division II soccer.
Hatley was tabbed to the Peach Belt’s All-Conference Second Team in 2024, and a season ago garnered Peach Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 as well as a spot on the league’s First Team, becoming Lander’s first major award winner since 2021 and the seventh Offensive Player of the Year winner in program history.
Prior to his time with Lander, Hatley began his Division II career with Lincoln Memorial in 2022, scoring the first three goals of his collegiate career and adding three assists while producing 27 total shot attempts, 13 of which were on target. Two of his three tallies with the Railsplitters represented game-winners.
Hatley’s addition brings the Knights’ 2026 roster total to 28, consisting of 13 newcomers and 15 returners.
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.