ORLANDO – Though the squad was able to find a degree of footing in the second half of the contest, the UCF men’s soccer team was unable to overcome a three-goal first half authored by the No. 18 Clemson Tigers Tuesday evening, falling by a 4-1 final score at the UCF Soccer Complex.
“We did not start the game at the right level, and what Clemson was able to do, they had a lot of intensity in their press, they were really well-organized, and we played into that a little bit,” said head coach Scott Calabrese. “We had much better ideas in the second half, but you’re down three goals and you’re trying to score three.”
The result represented the Knights’ first defeat of the fall, snapping its season-opening three-match unbeaten streak to drop the team to 2-1-1 through four matches, and the contest also saw the Black and Gold concede a goal for the first time this year.
The 18th-ranked Tigers took a commanding lead through the first 45 minutes, blanking UCF while netting a trio of goals to take a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.
Newcoming freshman forward Alex Partera broke the ice offensively for the Knights in the second half, scoring his first UCF goal and the Black and Gold’s fourth goal of the year overall in the 63rd minute, but the home 11 were unable to continue their comeback attempt.
Despite the three-goal margin, Clemson held just a three-shot advantage overall when the final whistle blew, and the Knights managed a 4-3 lead in shot attempts throughout the final 45 minutes.
UP NEXT
UCF looks to bounce back and return to the win column in the finale of the team’s current three-game homestand, when the team will welcome Florida Polytechnic to Orlando for a Sunday evening tilt. Opening kick is slated for 4 p.m. from the UCF Soccer Complex 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.