ORLANDO – Fresh off a 1-0 shutout at No. 12 West Virginia last week and having won four straight matches, the UCF women’s soccer team returns home to host Cincinnati on Thursday night.
Thursday’s match will mark Fright Knight for the Black and Gold in which the team will unveil new Halloween-themed kits. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The game will air live on ESPN+, and live stats can be followed by visiting UCF.StatBroadcast.com.
The Knights will enter Thursday on a four-match winning streak after shutting out No. 12 West Virginia by a score of 1-0 last Friday. UCF is currently in a tie for fifth place in the Big 12 standings with a 9-3-1 overall record and a 4-2-1 league mark as well as 13 points. The Black and Gold are just three points back of a four-way tie for first place in the conference. The Knights also currently hold the No. 21 RPI ranking in the nation.
With both UCF and WVU trading possession early last Friday, the Knights were the first to break through as Gabi Berchon found Naomi Clark for what proved to be the match’s only goal in the 25th minute. After dribbling through traffic near the top left edge of the box, Clark played give-and-go with Berchon, who quickly returned the ball to the senior striker. Clark then buried a shot into the upper-right corner of the net for her league-leading 10th goal of the season.
The Mountaineers went on the attack from there and looked for an equalizer, but the UCF defense was stout to maintain the lead. Black and Gold keeper Kaïna Cesar and the UCF defense managed to thwart each attempt to hold on for the win.
In all, WVU recorded 14 shots in the contest, including 10 in the second half, while UCF mustered just three shots and converted its lone shot on target of the contest. UCF’s Cesar turned away all five shots on goal she faced in the game to secure the shutout.
The clean sheet marked Cesar’s third of the season and UCF’s fourth total shutout.
During the current four-game winning streak, the Knights have defeated No. 12 West Virginia and the defending Big 12 champion TCU Horned Frogs on the road, as well as No. 17 Colorado and Oklahoma State at home.
SEASON LEADERS
Senior forward Naomi Clark leads the Knights offensively on the season with 10 goals and 22 points. She is also tops on the team in both shots (42) and shots on goal (21). Her 10 goals are also good enough to tie for the conference lead, and she also fronts the Big 12 in both goals per game (0.77) and points per game (1.69). She also ranks in the top 25 nationally in goals per game (19th), total goals (22nd), and points per game (25th). Junior midfielder Ainsley Moy is the team’s top assist leader, as she’s dished out seven assists on the season. She also ranks second on the team in points with 11 and ranks third in the conference in both total assists and assists per game (0.54), as well as in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Junior goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar leads the way between the posts with 38 saves, three clean sheets, and a 6-2-1 season record.
YOUR BIG 12 LEADER
Transfer forward Naomi Clark has continued her fantastic play, as she’s the Big 12 leader in a number of offensive categories. The Parker, Colorado, native registered all three goals in the Knights’ 3-1 win on Aug. 27 versus UAB, notching her first career hat trick and UCF’s first since Sept. 30, 2018. Clark’s most recent score came in the first-half versus then-No. 12 extending, giving the Knights a 1-0, one they would not relinquish.
The senior’s 10 goals through UCF’s 13 games ties her for first in the Big 12. That mark also represents a new career-high for goals in a single-season, surpassing her previous high of eight last year at Oklahoma. She solely leads the league in goals per game with a mark of .769. Her 22 total points are good enough for third in the conference and her 1.69 points per game mark solely leads the conference. Additionally, Clark’s 1.62 shots on goal average ranks fourth and her 3.23 shots per game places her fifth Nationally, she ranks in the top 25 in both total goals and goals per game.
FOUR IN A ROW
With their recent stretch of conference wins against No. 17 Colorado, TCU, Oklahoma State, and No. 12 West Virginia marks the first time that the Knights have held a four-game winning streak in Big 12 play. The victorious spell of play ties their season-high for consecutive wins, as the Black and Gold started the season winning their first four games.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Knights are currently undefeated at home on the season as they hold an unblemished 5-0-1 record. The last time the Black and Gold were unbeaten at the UCF Soccer Complex through six matches was 2017 when their lone home loss of the year came in the NCAA Tournament to Washington State. UCF finished with a 7-1-2 home clip that year. A season ago, UCF also posted a 7-1-2 home record.
KNIGHTS IN THE TOP 25 THIS SEASON
While outside of the Top 25 this week, UCF has been nationally ranked four times this season, most recently checking in at No. 23 in the IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Week 6 Top 25 Poll. UCF has climbed as high as No. 13 this season after previously being ranked No. 14 on Aug. 25. The Knights have also been ranked No. 13 on Sept. 1, No. 25 on Sept. 15, and No. 23 on Sept. 22.
The No. 13 ranking marked UCF’s highest since the 2017 season. The Knights are 1-3-1 this season when nationally ranked and 81-34-20 all-time as a ranked team, including a 43-14-10 mark at home. This season against nationally ranked teams, the Black and Gold hold an unblemished 3-0-1 record.
ABOUT CINCINNATI
The Bearcats enter Thursday night’s matchup with a 3-6-5 record on the season, as well as a 1-4-2 mark in conference play, which places them 13th in the conference. In its most recent Big 12 matchup, Cincinnati mustered a 1-1 draw versus Houston. Their lone Big 12 win came against Utah on Oct. 8, taking the match by a score of 1-0 at home. So far this season, they have yet to notch a conference win or a tie on the road, as they’ve fallen short in all three matchups (Texas Tech, Baylor, BYU).
UC was projected to finish 15th in the Big 12 conference this year, after going 5-8-6 overall and 3-6-2 in league play, after finishing 11th in 2025. Their latest Big 12 Tournament appearance came in 2024, when their season ended in the first round following a 3-2 loss versus Oklahoma State.
Junior forward Tiana Campbell leads the Bearcats in goals (5), points (10), shots (32), and shots on goal (14). The Plymouth, England, native’s five goals scored already outpaces UC’s team lead of four last year, which was achieved by now fifth-year forward Coley Sidloski. Campbell represented Cincinnati’s lone score in their most recent game against Houston, in which the two squads tied 1-1. Amber Brandon has served as the team’s only goalkeeper on the year, logging all 1,260 minutes in the box. The junior has notched 40 saves and a .741 save percentage.
Cincinnati is led by head coach Erica Demars, who is in the midst of her fourth season at the helm. With the Bearcats, she’s logged an 18-31-22 overall record and an 8-19-22 mark in conference play, leading the squad to two Big 12 Tournament appearances (2023, 2024). Prior to her time at Cincinnati, she served as head coach of the UAB Blazers, where she had an overall record of 50-38-19.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. CINCINNATI
Thursday's contest will mark the 17th all-time meeting between the Knights and Bearcats. UCF will enter the game holding to a 7-5-4 all-time advantage and a 6-1-1 clip in Orlando. The Black and Gold will also enter unbeaten in their last four matches against the Bearcats (2-0-2) and hold a 5-4-4 advantage as conference foes (Big 12 and American).
KNIGHTS TO UNVEIL ‘FRIGHT MODE’ UNIFORMS
Following Orlando’s tradition of celebrating the Halloween season with a barrage of seasonal events that range from Universal’s Halloween Horror Knights to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, the Knights will proudly wear their new ‘Fright Mode’ kits Thursday night versus Cincinnati.
The festive kits feature a new skeleton Knight head in the midst of UCF’s ‘Orlando’ logo, with bones making up the interior of each letter. The uniform also features a twist on the traditional palm pattern, with the palm fronds also consisting entirely of bones. In all, the kit gives UCF a new, Halloween-themed distinctive dimension that furthers the connection between the on-field action UCF Athletics offers and the community that supports it.
Fans can purchase ‘Fright Mode’ apparel by visiting shop.ucfknights.com. View more about the 'Fright Mode' kits by clicking here.
MOY TABBED BIG 12 POW AND TDS TEAM OF THE WEEK LAST WEEK
Junior midfielder Ainsley Moy was named both the Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week and to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week on Oct. 14 after helping lead UCF to a 2-0-0 record with a pair of goals and an assist the previous week. A native of Freehold, New Jersey, Moy first recorded her team-leading seventh assist of the season in UCF’s 2-1 road victory over TCU on Thursday, then followed it up with the first brace of her career to lead the Knights to a 3-1 home win over Oklahoma State on Sunday. Her five points on the week led the conference.
The weekly conference honor and the TDS Team of the Week recognition are both the first of Moy’s career. The Big 12 weekly accolade is the fourth of the season for UCF, as sophomore defender Kalena Bellini earned Defender of the Week (Oct. 7), junior keeper Kaïna Cesar Goalkeeper of the Week (Oct. 7) and senior forward Naomi Clark Offensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 2).
UNDEFEATED AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE FOES
UCF went a perfect 3-0 on the season versus Sunshine State opponents with wins over Florida, South Florida and North Florida. The Knights started the season with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Gators and followed that up with a 2-0 victory at USF the following week. After having a match at FIU postponed due to heavy rainfall and unplayable field conditions, UCF then capped in-state play with a 1-0 home win over UNF.
The Knights are now 7-1-0 against Sunshine State opponents over the last two years.
MAKE THAT FIVE STRAIGHT AGAINST SEC OPPONENTS
The Knights hold wins over both Florida and No. 21 LSU on the season to move their win streak over SEC opponents to five. UCF has defeated both Florida and LSU twice during the streak, as well as No. 8 Georgia at home in 2024.
The Black and Gold’s last non-victory against an opponent from the SEC was Aug. 25, 2024, when they drew with Florida in Gainesville. The Knights’ last loss to an SEC foe came on Aug. 24, 2023, at Georgia.
COACH TIFF TO REPRESENT USWNT AT 2027 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
UCF head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak has rejoined the U.S. Women's National Team as a current assistant coach on Emma Hayes' staff. Roberts Sahaydak has been with the USWNT a number of times during 2026, as she took part in the team's January Camp, in February for the SheBelieves Cup, in April for the April Camp (friendlies vs. Japan), and in June for the June Camp (friendlies vs. Brazil). She will remain on staff and represent her home nation at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
As a player, Roberts Sahaydak won both Olympic Gold (1996) and the 1999 World Cup with the USWNT. She went on to earn 112 caps for her country. She also previously spent time as an assistant coach for the USWNT in 2022 and 2023 for the 2023 Women's World Cup that was held in Australia/New Zealand.
FRESHMAN DANIELA OCAMPO TOOK PART IN 2026 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP
Freshman midfielder Daniela Ocampo represented her home nation of Costa Rica at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup from Sept. 5-27 in Poland.
Despite Costa Rica having their run come to a close in the group stage with an 0-3 record, Ocampo started all three matches for Costa Rica. The national appearance wasn’t the first for Ocampo, as she previously competed for Costa Rica at both the 2024 U-20 World Cup as well as the 2025 U-17 World Cup where she was a team captain for her home nation.
MOST CURRENT PROS IN THE BIG 12
UCF women's soccer has the most current pros of any Big 12 institution with 28. Former goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson was the latest Knight to go pro as the 2025 All-Big 12 Second Team honoree signed a professional contract with Atlético Madrid of the Spanish Liga F this summer.
Fellow 2025 All-Big 12 honorees Liz Worden and Rajanah Reed also went pro, as Worden plays for Racing Power FC of Liga BPI and Reed for Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League.
UP NEXT
The Knights will continue the homestand by welcoming Houston to the UCF Soccer Complex on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match will mark the Alumni Game for the Black and Gold, as all UCF women’s soccer Varsity Knights in attendance will be honored on the field prior to the match. Following Sunday’s contest, UCF will return to the road for its final road trip of the regular season by taking on Kansas State on Friday, Oct. 30 in Lawrence, Kansas.
TICKETS
UCF women’s soccer season and single-game tickets are on sale now! Please visit ucfknights.com/tickets for more information or call the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
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.
Fright Mode Activated 🔜☠️ https://t.co/MdAoYcPGgm
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 20, 2026