ORLANDO – Coming off a dominant 7-0 regular-season finale on Senior Knight at the UCF Soccer Complex, the UCF women’s soccer team will look to build on that momentum as it takes its talents to the 2026 Big 12 Soccer Tournament presented by Allstate on Monday against No. 7/5 Texas Tech in the quarterfinal round.
The seventh-seeded Knights and the second-seeded Red Raiders will face off at 6:30 ET/5:30 CT at the new Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas. The contest will be the tournament’s third of the day and will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats available to follow on UCF.StatBroadcast.com.
As a win-or-go-home tournament, the winner of Monday’s contest will advance to Wednesday’s semifinal round, while the loser will be eliminated. The tournament’s championship match will take place on Saturday night.
UCF finished the regular season with a solid 11-4-2 overall mark and a 6-3-2 record in conference play, good enough to earn the No. 7 seed in the highly competitive Big 12 with 20 points. The Black and Gold’s play really took off once the calendar struck October, as their season has been defined by a five-game winning streak that saw them take down two ranked opponents (No. 17/17 Colorado and No. 12/14 West Virginia).
Looking to build off a 1-1 draw against Kansas State in Manhattan that allowed the Knights to clinch a spot in the 2026 Big 12 Soccer Tournament, UCF played host to the Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday for their regular-season finale and Senior Knight.
The Black and Gold did just that, deploying an offensive onslaught and getting it started early with five first-half goals, their most in the first 45 minutes of a contest since Oct. 6, 2002, when they scored seven at home versus Belmont. The last time the Knights scored exactly five in a half was on Sep. 30, 2004, in the second half against Lipscomb at home.
Leading the way was none other than Naomi Clark, who secured her third multi-goal game of the season to give her a total of 13 on the season, tied for the Big 12 lead with Texas Tech's Taylor Zdrojewski. That total also serves as the most in a single-season by a Knight since Stefanie Sanders matched the same output in 2018.
The other scorers in the first half included Alysiah Lockette, Tyra Eriksen, and senior Bella Douglas, who notched her second career goal in the final regular-season match of her career.
With that many goals scored, the Knights had even more assists in the first 45. Katsi Bengoa assisted on three Knight goals, registering the first three assists of her career and her first-career three-assist contest. Ainsley Moy, the team’s leader in assists, added to her totals on Lockette’s goal in the 23rd minute, now giving her nine on the season. Clark joined the giving party with an assist of her own, while seniors Brooke Mulroney and Payton Patrick each helped with an assist each.
The Knights kept their foot on the gas pedal in the second half as sophomore Sophia May notched her first-career goal in the 55th minute, coming off a feed from Clark, who notched her second assist of the game, her season-high.
The Black and Gold then scored their seventh and final goal of the night in the 66th minute, after Ella Holloran found Moy at the top of the box, who then buried a left-footed strike in the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season. UCF’s seven goals were their most in a matchup since Oct. 19, 2012, when they defeated East Carolina by the same score of 7-0 at home.
Not getting lost in the shuffle was the Knights’ incredible defensive performance, they notched their sixth clean sheet of the season in which they didn’t allow a shot on goal.
It was an easy night at the office for keepers Kaïna Cesar and Virginia Green. Cesar earned the win, moving to 8-3-2 in the box this year, while the freshman Green finished off the contest’s final 30 minutes to secure the shutout in her first collegiate appearance.
Prior to the match, seniors Clark, Douglas, Patrick, Mulroney, Jessica McCullen, Jada Silvest, Maria Tregansin, and Brianne MacDonald were all honored as part of Senior Knight.
SEASON LEADERS
Senior forward Naomi Clark leads the Knights offensively in the season with 13 goals and 31 points. She also paces the team in shots (56), shots on goal (28), and game-winning goals (4). Her 13 goal tie her for the Big 12 lead, while she solely ranks first in the league in goals per game (0.76) and points per game (1.82). Junior midfielder Ainsley Moy is the team’s top assist leader, as she has dished out nine on the season. She also ranks second on the team in points with 17 and is third in the conference in total assists and assists per game (0.53), as well as in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Junior goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar leads the way in the box with 46 saves, four shutouts, and an 8-3-2 season record. She also ranks third in the Big 12 in saves per game with a 3.54 average.
ONE OF THE BIG 12’S BEST
Transfer senior forward Naomi Clark has been a fantastic addition for the Knights this season, as she is in the top three in the Big 12 Conference in several offensive categories. Her 13 goals tie her for first in the league. She also tops the conference with a 0.76 goals per game average, and a 1.82 points per game clip. Her 31 points put her in sole possession of second place, while her four game-winning goals tie her for second in the Big 12. Nationally, Clark finds herself in the top 20 in goals (tied for 18th), goals per game (tied for 17th), points (tied for 18th), and points per game (18th), effectively cementing herself as one of the nation’s best and most feared attackers.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SUCCESS UNDER COACH ROBERTS SAHAYDAK
UCF will enter the 2026 Big 12 Soccer Tournament presented by Allstate with a 1-2 all-time record in Big 12 Tournament play after defeating TCU in the quarterfinals in 2023, while falling to BYU in the semifinals that same year and Colorado in the 2025 quarterfinals. The Knights also hold a 7-7-5 conference tournament record under Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak with the team having won their last conference tournament championship in 2013—Coach Roberts Sahaydak’s first season at the helm in Orlando.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH
The No. 7/5 Red Raiders earned the No. 2 seed for the Big 12 Tournament after going 12-2-4 overall, with an 8-2-1 conference record, good enough for 25 points in the standings. Tech ended the regular season with a 3-2 setback at No. 18 Kansas on Thursday. Before that, they had won their previous three matches, with two of those victories coming against ranked opponents (No. 8 Baylor and No. 16 West Virginia). Their only two setbacks came against ranked opponents as well, as the aforementioned Jayhawks and No. 22 BYU Cougars came out on top against the Red Raiders. UCF hosted TTU for both squads first Big 12 matchup of the year, a contest that ended in a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
The Red Raiders made the 2025 Big 12 Tournament, as well, losing to the Baylor Bears on penalty kicks in the first round. Their season eventually ended in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, again falling in penalty kicks to North Carolina. The result led to them being predicted to finish fifth in the conference this year, an expectation that the Red Raiders exceeded.
Tech is led by one of the Big 12’s leading scorers in Taylor Zdrojewski, who has scored 13 goals in 18 games, a total that ties her for the league lead in goals scored with UCF’s Naomi Clark. The senior forward is tied for the conference lead in shots (75) and solely leads the Big 12 in shots on goal (36). Her 29 total points and 1.53 points per game average place her third in the league, while her 0.68 goals per game average has her behind Clark for second. The Red Raiders spread assists around evenly, with 13 different players totaling at least one on the season. Fifth-year defender Kylie Bahr paces the squad with five.
In goal, senior Addie Todd has started in all 18 games on the year. The Florida State transfer has logged 1,620 minutes in the box, saving 56 shots along the way. The senior also leads the Big 12 in shutouts, with 10 this season.
Texas Tech is led by head coach Tom Stone, who is in his 20th season at the helm in Lubbock. Under his guidance, the Red Raiders have made the Big 12 tournament 17 times, winning it all in 2015, and the NCAA dance 10 times. Overall, Coach Stone holds a record of 237-110-59, amassing 10 or more wins in 13 of his 20 seasons.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. TEXAS TECH
Monday’s Big 12 Tournament opener will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the Knights and Red Raiders and their first matchup in conference tournament play. UCF enters the contest with a 1-0-3 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have played to draws in each of their last three meetings, including a 2-2 result in Orlando earlier this season. The Knights’ lone victory over Texas Tech came at home in 1996.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Knights have put together a solid record at home on the season as they went an impressive 7-1-1. UCF opened the season unbeaten at the UCF Soccer Complex through its first seven home matches. The seven wins matched UCF's output from last season in which they 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. UCF will enter the Big 12 Tournament with the No. 31 RPI.
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.
CLARK TABBED TO TDS'S MIDSEASON TOP 100 LIST
Senior forward Naomi Clark has been named Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason Top 100 List. This list recognizes the top collegiate players in the country based on their performances throughout the first half of the season. Checking in at No. 34, Clark is the fourth-highest ranked player in the Big 12 Conference. Clark previously earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 2 after tallying her first career hat trick in a win over UAB. She also earned Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week Honorable Mention accolades that same week.
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 Big 12 Tournament will continue with the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 11, while the tournament’s championship match will be contested on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The winner will receive the Big 12’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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.
We will open Big 12 Tournament play Monday against the Red Raiders ⚔️ https://t.co/x9cjYYgt4v
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) November 6, 2026