ORLANDO – UCF’s women’s soccer team will look to continue its inspired stretch of play Sunday afternoon, as it hosts the Houston Cougars for a key Big 12 showdown.
Sunday’s matchup comes on Alumni Weekend for the Black and Gold. To celebrate, all UCF women’s soccer alumni in attendance will be honored on the field prior to the start of the game. The contest is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats available to follow on UCF.StatBroadcast.com.
The Knights will enter Sunday’s matchup on a five-game winning streak, after their 3-0 shutout victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night. The five-game stretch not only serves as a program record for most consecutive Big 12 games won, but it also gives the squad a new season-high high for consecutive wins, surpassing their 4-0 run to begin the season. The last time UCF had a five-match winning streak was the beginning of the 2025 season, when they started the campaign 5-0.
With their recent strong play, the Black and Gold currently hold a 10-3-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 record in Big 12 play, which ties them with Houston for fifth in the conference standings with 16 points. Both squads are just three points back of first place Baylor and Texas Tech, respectively, making Sunday’s match a crucial one for both sides. The Knights also currently clock in at No. 23 in the NCAA RPI rankings.
UCF took an early lead versus Cincinnati on Thursday, thanks to the offensive engine that is Naomi Clark. The senior forward was able to win a foot race against two Bearcat defenders, find a beautiful feed from Ainsley Moy, and then deliver a sliding strike past the diving goalkeeper to give the Knights a 1-0 lead in just the 5th minute of the match.
Clark’s score added to her league-leading total, giving her 11 now on the season in just 14 games. Moy logged her eighth assist of the year on the play, extending her team lead.
The Black and Gold were then able to add some insurance in the 68th minute, thanks to Katsi Bengoa’s second goal of her career. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native was able to handle a cross from Clark in the corner and turn to make a quick, left-footed strike that deflected off the keeper’s hands to extend the Knight lead to 2-0.
Just two minutes later, Gabi Berchon joined the fun and fired off an unassisted shot in the right corner of the net to give UCF a 3-0 advantage. Berchon’s score marked her second of the season and her first since the season opener over in-state foe Florida on Aug. 13.
Defensively, the Knights stifled Cincinnati’s offense in the game, as they mustered up just two shots in the match’s final 45 minutes, with neither of them coming on goal. In fact, keeper Kaïna Cesar only had one shot come her way in the box, which she successfully secured in the first half. The last time the Knights held their opponent to just one shot on goal was on Aug. 23, a 2-0 win over South Florida in Tampa. In total, the Knights outshot the Bearcats 12-7 in the contest.
In all, the scoreless victory was UCF’s fifth clean sheet of the season and its second in a row, after blanking No. 12 West Virginia in Morgantown last Friday. It was also Cesar’s fourth shutout this fall and 23rd of her career. She is now 7-2-1 in goal this season.
During their now five-game winning streak, the Knights have defeated Cincinnati, No. 17 Colorado, and Oklahoma State at home, while taking contests against No. 12 West Virginia and the defending Big 12 regular-season champion TCU on the road.
Relive the action from Thursday night’s win over Cincinnati 📽️⚽ https://t.co/VHRtg7i3Zs
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 23, 2026
SEASON LEADERS
Senior forward Naomi Clark leads the Knights offensively on the season with 11 goals and 25 points. She is also tops on the team in both shots (44) and shots on goal (23). Her 11 goals are also good enough to tie for the conference lead, and she also fronts the Big 12 in both goals per game (0.79) and points per game (1.79). She also ranks in the top 25 nationally in goals per game (18th), total goals (19th), and points per game (23rd). Junior midfielder Ainsley Moy is the team’s top assist leader, as she’s dished out eight assists on the season. She also ranks second on the team in points with 12 and ranks tied for third in the conference in total assists and is in sole possession of third place in assists per game (0.57), as well as in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Junior goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar leads the way between the posts with 39 saves, four clean sheets, and a 7-2-1 season record. Cesar is also second in the conference in saves per game, with an average of 3.90.
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 Cincinnati, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead.
The senior’s 11 goals through UCF’s 14 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 0.79. Her 25 total points are good enough for a second-place tie in the conference and her 1.79 points per game mark solely leads the conference. Additionally, Clark’s 1.64 shots on goal average ranks fourth and her 3.14 shots per game places her fifth. Nationally, she ranks in the top 25 in goals per game (18th), total goals (19th), and points per game (23rd).
FIVE IN A ROW
The Knights’ recent streak of conference wins against No. 17 Colorado, TCU, Oklahoma State, No. 12 West Virginia, and Cincinnati marks the first time that they have held a five-game winning streak in Big 12 play. The victorious spell of play breaks their previous 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 6-0-1 record. The last time the Black and Gold were unbeaten at the UCF Soccer Complex through seven 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 HOUSTON
The Cougars arrive in Orlando with a 9-3-4 record and currently tied with UCF for fifth place in the conference with a 5-2-1 league mark. In their most recent Big 12 matchup, Houston recorded a win against in-state rival TCU with a 2-0 shutout at home. UH has been dominant on its home pitch this season, remaining undefeated, but all three of their losses have come away from Houston.
Houston was projected to finish 10th in the Big 12 conference this year, after going 7-4-7 overall and finishing 10th in the league standings with a 2-4-5 record in conference play in 2025. Their season ended with a 2-0 shutout defeat on the road against regular season champion TCU. The Cougars have never appeared in the NCAA tournament.
Junior forward Skylar Miller leads the Cougars in goals (6), shots on goal (18), shots (28), and game winners (3). Her teammate Bailey Cate is tied atop the team in goals scored with six. Fifth-year defender Laney Gonzalez paces the team with four assists, while Sierra McCluer leads the way in goal with 47 saves, a 0.825 save percentage, and an 8-3-4 record.
Houston is led by head coach Ben Williams, who is amid his second season at the helm. The Cougars had a significant turnaround in their first season, giving them their first winning season since 2021. Prior to Houston, he led Stephen F. Austin to both regular season and tournament championships in the Southland Conference during the 2024 campaign.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. HOUSTON
Sunday’s contest will mark the 23rd all-time meeting between the Knights and Cougars. UCF has dominated the all-time series, as the Black and Gold hold an 18-2-2 advantage over UH, including a 10-1-0 clip in Orlando. The Black and Gold will also enter unbeaten in their last four matches against the Cougars (3-1-0). The two teams played to a 1-1 draw last season in Houston.
ALUMNI WEEKEND
Sunday’s matchup between the Knights and the Cougars will feature a special celebration for the Black and Gold, as UCF women’s soccer alumni will be honored for their lasting contributions to the program and its legacy. The recognition will be held on the pitch prior to the start of the game. Soccer legend and UCF Hall of Famer Michelle Akers is scheduled to be in attendance for the festivities on Sunday.
Save the date for Alumni Weekend with @UCF_MSoccer and @UCF_WSoccer in October ⚔️⚽ https://t.co/rwantuF5NW
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) February 23, 2026
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
Following Sunday’s contest, the Knights will head to Lawrence, Kansas, for their final regular season road game on Friday, Oct. 30 at Kansas State. The Big 12 match is set for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. The Black and Gold will then host Iowa State in the regular season finale on Thursday Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. for Senior Knight.
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.