DeLAND, Fla. – The UCF men’s soccer team enjoyed a fast start to its latest contest, but a second-half Stetson rally forced the Knights to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Hatters at the Stetson Soccer Complex Tuesday evening.
The result, while not the triumphant effort the Black and Gold were searching for, ensured UCF just two losses through its first eight matches as the 2026 regular season reached its official halfway point, as the Knights moved to 4-2-2 while Stetson now sits at 2-5-2.
The Black and Gold also concluded the non-conference portion of their 2026 schedule with the matchup, going 4-1-2 in their seven contests against Boston U., Florida Atlantic, South Florida, then-No. 18 Clemson, Florida Polytechnic, VCU and Stetson.
UCF found the back of the net first in just the 13th minute of action, coming off a corner kick taken by redshirt senior Joey Mueller.
After the kick was headed away by a Hatters defender, second-year Knight Seiryu Ono collected the ball outside the 18-yard box and dribbled in a few paces before sending a pass back Mueller’s way inside the box.
An accurate strike found its way past the Stetson goalkeeper and just inside the near goalpost, giving the Black and Gold the early one-goal advantage. The score represented Mueller’s first goal of the season and fourth of his career after he netted a season high two goals in 2025.
UCF was unable to add on to its early edge, though, and the Hatters would later find an equalizer in the 52nd minute of play en route to outshooting the Knights by an overall 13-8 margin.
Defensively, though, UCF still produced another strong display, limiting an opponent to one or fewer goals for the seventh time in the team’s first eight matches this fall after entering the contest tied for first in the Sun Belt with No. 1 South Carolina in lowest team goals-against average (.714).
After yielding just a single tally to the Hatters Tuesday, the 2026 Knights became the program’s first team since 2010 to allow one or fewer goals in seven of a season’s first eight matches. The 2010 Knights, like this year’s squad, allowed just six goals in that span.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will return home to resume Sun Belt Conference play against the visiting Kentucky Wildcats Sunday, Sept. 27. Opening kick is set 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.