ORLANDO – The UCF women’s soccer team had its winning ways come to a close with a 1-0 setback to Houston on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The loss snapped the Knights’ five-match Big 12 winning streak, dropping UCF to 10-4-1 overall and 5-3-1 in conference play. Houston improved to 10-3-4 overall and 6-2-1 in the Big 12 with the victory. The Knights now have just two regular-season matches remaining.
“Today was not our best day. I thought we were outcompeted in several areas of the game,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “That’s just football. There’s going to be days when it just doesn’t click and doesn’t go our way. But credit to Houston. They put a lot of pressure on us and we couldn’t find an answer.”
With Houston controlling the ball in the early stages, Bailey Cate found the back of the net for the visitors in the 12th minute on an assist Jada Arthurs to give UH a quick 1-0 advantage.
The Knights looked to return the favor late in the half, as Sophia May turned and fired a shot on target in the 40th minute but the shot was cleared by a UH defender.
Berchon led the Knights on the afternoon with three shots and a pair of those on target, while Cate paced Houston with four shots on goal. In all, UH edged UCF in shots, 9-7.
In goal, UCF’s Kaïna Cesar finished with four saves on the afternoon while UH’s Sierra McCluer earned the shutout by notching a pair of saves.
Sunday’s game marked the Alumni Game for UCF as a number of all-time greats from the program were in a attendance and honored on the field prior to the match.
“I think UCF Soccer is a really special program, and that’s one of the reasons Tim and I have been here for 14 years,” Roberts Sahaydak said. “This program has a rich tradition, from legacy players like Michelle Akers to being part of one of the first Final Fours in the 1980s. At the same time, we’re constantly working to build on that foundation and continue growing the program. It’s something we love being a part of. UCF Soccer is a program everyone associated with it can be proud of, and we’re very proud to be leading this team and representing this program.”
We 🫶our alumni! https://t.co/lGy1HlCaus
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) October 25, 2026
UP NEXT
The Knights will now hit the road for their regular-season road finale at Kansas State on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. Following Friday’s contest, UCF will return home to host Iowa State for Senior Knight and the regular-season finale on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
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 website at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.