ORLANDO – Coming off its second Big 12 Conference win in a row, the UCF women’s soccer team will look to keep its momentum rolling on Sunday afternoon with it hosts the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in front of Knight Nation.
The Big 12 contest is scheduled for 12:30 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.
Overall, the Black and Gold will enter the match with a 7-3-1 record and a 2-2-1 mark in conference play. These marks clock the Knights in eighth in the Big 12 conference standings and 28th in the NCAA’s RPI rankings. Most recently, UCF traveled to Fort Worth and notched a 2-1 victory over the defending Big 12 champion Horned Frogs on Thursday night.
Despite TCU jumping out to an early lead in the ninth minute, the Black and Gold fought right back with a score of their own in the 14th minute, thanks to a Tyra Eriksen goal. The Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, native was assisted on the play by both Ainsley Moy and Gabi Berchon, with the latter finding Eriksen in space to get past her defender and score her second goal of the season.
Just five minutes later, the Knights were able to take the lead after a masterful sequence that resulted in an Alysiah Lockette looping header for the score. Guta Franke found Berchon, who then met a perfectly-timed leaping Lockette with a 35-yard pass to give UCF a 2-1 lead.
Lockette’s score made it her second-straight game with a goal and her third on the year, already tying her career-high of three goals she achieved last year at Baylor, doing so in half as many games.
The Knights were able to hold on to the 2-1 lead heading into the second half, as the two squads exchanged shots within the first few minutes of the half. Most notably, the Big 12’s leading scorer Naomi Clark fired off two shots to keep the pressure on the Horned Frogs.
Later on in the 64th minute, TCU found themselves with a one-on-one opportunity against UCF keeper Kaïna Cesar, but the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week was able to deflect the possible game-tying shot to thwart their scoring attempt.
The Horned Frogs did not go down without a fight, but the Knights were able to stand tall and protect their 2-1 lead, giving them their first Big 12 road win of the season.
The victory was UCF’s first conference road win in nearly a calendar year, with their last one coming versus Sunday’s opponent Oklahoma State on Oct. 16, 2025, in Stillwater. The Black and Gold’s two-game conference winning streak is their first since last season, when they defeated No. 16/10 Baylor and BYU on Oct. 23 and 27, 2025.
On Thursday, Clark paced the Knights with three shots. Berchon’s two assists represent a career-high for assists in a single game, giving her a total of four on the year, surpassing her total of three last year. Moy’s assist marks her seventh of the year, extending her team lead. After her two saves, Cesar now moves to 4-2-1 in goal on the season.
SEASON LEADERS
Senior forward Naomi Clark has made a name for herself this season, as her nine goals tie her for first in the Big 12, while her 0.82 goals per game on the year solely lead the conference. She is also first in points per game with 1.82 and is third in total points with 20. Additionally, her 1.73 shots on goal per game average and 3.36 shots per game place her fourth. Nationally, Clark finds herself in the top 20 in the country in both goals per game and total goals. Midfielder Ainsley Moy leads the squad with seven assists, a total that has her tied for third in the Big 12. Her 0.64 assists per game are second in the conference. She also ranks ninth nationally in assists per game. Goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar leads the team with 29 saves in the box and a .725 save percentage.
YOUR BIG 12 LEADER
Transfer forward Naomi Clark has continued her fantastic first impression to Knight Nation, 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 second-half goal versus then-No. 17 Colorado, extending the Knights’ lead to 2-0.
The senior’s nine goals through UCF’s 11 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 0.82. Her 20 total points tie her for third in conference and her 1.82 points per game mark solely leads the conference. Additionally, Clark’s 1.73 shots on goal average and 3.36 shots per game ranks fourth, while her 37 total shots is tied for sixth in conference. Nationally, she ranks in the top 20 in both total goals and goals per game.
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 a 2-0-1 record.
BELLINI AND CESAR EARN BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS
Sophomore defender Kalena Bellini was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, while junior goalie Kaïna Cesar notched Goalkeeper of the Week honors after their performance against No. 17 Colorado last Friday. The two helped stifle Colorado’s prolific offense to just eight total shots, four shots on goal, and no goals in the Big 12 contest.
For Bellini, who played all 90 minutes in the match and also recorded an assist, this marks the first Big 12 Weekly award for her career. Cesar’s accolade represents her first Big 12 Weekly honor, but the fifth of her career as she previously notched four ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week awards during her time at Lipscomb. Cesar, who recorded her second clean sheet of the year, was also tabbed the College Soccer News’ National Goalkeeper of the Week, the first of her career.
In total, UCF now holds three Big 12 weekly honors on the season. Their first came in early September when Naomi Clark was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following her first career hat trick versus UAB.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE
The Cowgirls will come to Orlando with a 5-5-3 overall record and currently tied for 12th in the conference standings with a 1-3-1 league mark. Oklahoma State most recently fell to No. 12 Texas Tech at home on Thursday by a score of 3-0. Prior to that, the Pokes recorded a 3-3 draw with Arizona at home on Oct. 2. OK State holds its Big 12 win on the year over TCU, as it defeated the Horned Frogs in Stillwater in the conference opener by a score of 3-1.
Oklahoma State was picked to finish 13th in the Big 12 this season after going 4-13-2 overall and taking 16th in the league standings with an 0-10-1 clip a season ago. OK State last made the NCAA Tournament in 2024.
The Cowgirls are led by Sonora De Fini and her team-leading five goals. She also paces the team in points (13), shots (31) and shots on goal (11). Emmy Hedden fronts the squad in assists with five, while Avery Bass leads the way in goal with 25 saves and a 3-3-2 record.
The Pokes are coached by head coach Colin Carmichael. Carmichael is in his 22nd season at the helm in Stillwater and holds a 274-128-58 record. He has also led OK State to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and is a six-time Big 12 Coach of the Year.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA STATE
Sunday's matinee will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the Knights and Cowgirls. UCF will enter play holding a 3-2-0 all-time advantage and a 1-1 clip versus Oklahoma State at the UCF Soccer Complex. This will mark the fourth meeting as conference mates and OSU will enter Sunday with a 2-1-0 advantage as Big 12 foes.
NAOMI CLARK TABBED BIG 12 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior forward Naomi Clark was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2 after notching her first career hat trick in UCF’s win over UAB. The conference weekly honor marked the first of the career for Clark and the first of the season for the Knights.
CLARK EARNS TOP DRAWER SOCCER TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORABLE MENTION HONORS
Senior forward Naomi Clark also received honorable mention Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week accolades on Sept. 1 after recording her first career hat trick against UAB. The TDS Team of the Week honor marks the second of Clark’s career, as she previously earned the recognition last August while playing for Oklahoma.
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, UCF will return to the road to face No. 16/15 West Virginia on Friday, Oct. 16 in Morgantown. The contest is set for 3 p.m. ET at WVU’s Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Knights will then return to the UCF Soccer Complex to host Cincinnati (Oct. 22) and Houston (Oct. 25).
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.