Men's Soccer Clinches Third Straight Clean Sheet with 2-0 Win over South FloridaMen's Soccer Clinches Third Straight Clean Sheet with 2-0 Win over South Florida

Men's Soccer Clinches Third Straight Clean Sheet with 2-0 Win over South Florida

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – Though the majority of the UCF men’s soccer team’s 2026 roster hails from countries around the globe, the Black and Gold’s veteran leadership ensured all 28 Knights knew what was at stake Friday evening.

A third consecutive clean sheet, an opportunity to remain unbeaten through the season’s first three matches, and the program’s first win over South Florida since 2021 were all on the line as the Black and Gold took their home pitch for the second time in 2026.

“We knew it was a rivalry game, and we have a lot of new guys in here from other countries. They don’t really know the rivalry,” said senior midfielder Joey Mueller. “I’ve been here four years. We haven’t produced the best results against them recently, but today we dominated them. We did everything according to our plan, and it feels really good.”

The UCF men’s soccer team accomplished it all, blanking the Bulls by a 2-0 final score at the UCF Soccer Complex to extend its unbeaten streak to three straight matches to begin the new season, all coming in shutout fashion.

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In doing so, this year’s squad joined the 1980 Knights as the second in program history to begin a season with three defensive clean sheets, and UCF this season joins Duquesne, Akron, Florida Atlantic, Wisconsin and Ohio State as one of just six men’s Division I programs to not surrender a goal through their first three contests this fall following play Friday evening.

“We created a lot more, we were able to build up and arrive lower on the field into the final third, and create some really good chances. We keep getting better, and this was another really good step forward for our guys tonight. They showed up with a strong mentality and competed in the right way.”

Scott CalabreseHead Coach

The Black and Gold have also begun a season unbeaten through the first three contests for the third time in the last four seasons, and have already nearly matched their clean sheet total from a season ago, when the group last year totaled five defensive shutouts against UTRGV, Jacksonville, South Carolina, then-No. 11 Georgia Southern and then-No. 19 Kentucky.

In doing so, the Knights limited the Bulls to just five total shot attempts and just one on goal, also extending a streak of matches with fewer than 10 total shot attempts allowed to their opposition to three consecutive games to begin the new season.

UCF most recently accomplished the feat to begin the 2023 campaign, when then-No. 9 Clemson, Stetson and NC State managed just seven, nine and seven respective offensive tries against the Black and Gold’s defensive efforts.

“It’s so solid. It’s a group of players who older, mature, have played college soccer for multiple years now. It’s a really strong group. We got Timothy Arias in tonight, which was great to see. We have depth and quality in that back line as well. Matisse obviously has been excellent in goal. If you don’t concede, you’re not going to lose.”

Scott Calabreseon his defensive corps

In besting the Bulls Friday evening, the Knights also notched their first game of the year with multiple offensive scores, coming from senior defender Takahiro Fujita and senior midfielder Kenn Muendo.

Fujita’s score, which came in the 29th minute of action, marked his second goal of the season, sixth of his career, and his second career game-winning goal, both having come in a Knights kit throughout the campaign’s first three matches.

Takahiro Fujita scores his second UCF goal in the 29th minute.

“It is really important to be able to get goals from different sources, in different ways. 'Taka' in the previous game, he arrived as an outside back, so he was able to get higher on the field. He’s a presence, obviously, physically. He’s a guy who’s difficult to deal with in the box and around the box, and he’s got a lot of quality.”

Scott Calabresehead coach

The senior defender, tabbed the Sun Belt’s 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, found the back of the net for the second time this fall coming off a corner kick taken by teammate Younes Boudinar. The ball sailed past the far side of the goalmouth, but an accurate assist from Mueller kept the ball in play for Fujita, whose header cashed in on the early offensive opportunity.

UCF added on late in the second half of play, when, deep in the offensive end above the near goalpost, a pair of 2026 Spanish newcomers in Erik Vázquez and Alex Partera helped provide a perfect feed to a crashing Muendo. The second-year Knight scored his team’s second header of the evening, as well as his second career Division I goal and his first since he registered his first UCF tally on the road against then-No. 6 Wake Forest Aug. 24, 2025.

Kenn Muendo scored his first goal of the season in the 78th minute.

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Starting goalkeeper Matisse Hébert remained spotless on the season as well, needing just one save to secure the third straight shutout to begin his Knights career and the 13th clean sheet of his Division I collegiate tenure.

“For the quality they have, they’re very connected,” Calabrese added of his team. “Right now, for us to have three clean sheets in a row at the beginning of the season, it’s a great start and it shows the level that they’re at.”

UP NEXT
The Knights face another early-season challenge in the squad’s next match, as the team will welcome the No. 16 Clemson Tigers to the UCF Soccer Complex. Opening kick for the match is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 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.