Knight Cap: UCF Men’s Soccer Ranked 6th

This past week of UCF Knights sports saw the Men’s Soccer team reach the top ten, plus we name the Knight of the Week and Knights Play of the Week in your Knight Cap for Thursday, September 6, 2023.

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Top 10-ranked Men’s Soccer Draws with #11 FIU

UCF Men’s Soccer came into the week ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches’ poll, the second-highest in the program’s history after the Knights earned a No. 5 spot in 2019.

They hosted No. 11 FIU Tuesday night and jumped out to 2-0 lead, highlighted by Lucca Dourado’s 30th career goal and Beto Ydratch’s INSANE free kick golazo with seven minutes left:

But FIU scored two goals in the last seven minutes of the match to get a 2-2 draw.

UCF Goalkeeper Juanvi Munoz had a career-high 9 saves and spoke after the game:

Last Friday night, UCF rallied to a 3-1 win over North Carolina State with three second-half goals. Fifth-year midfielder Robbie Soronellas tied the match with a goal with 21 minutes left.

Emmanuel Bam and Saku Heiskanen would follow with goals of their own to clinch the Knights’ third win of the season.

Up next: UCF hosts Brown Saturday night in the final tune-up before starting Sun Belt play next week.

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Volleyball Goes 3-1 in UCF Challenge

The UCF Volleyball team opened the 2023 home season in The Venue last weekend with the UCF Challenge, winning three of four.

The Knights extended their season-opening winning streak to five matches with a 3-0 sweep against FIU and a 3-1 victory over Mississippi State where Outside Hitter Emily Wilson set a new career high with 16 kills.

However, Wake Forest handed the Knights their first loss of the season, and its first home loss since Oct. 8, 2021, on Saturday night. The Demon Deacons got ahead early, winning the first two sets. However, UCF battled back to force a fifth set, which Wake Forest edged out, 15-11.

The Knights finished the weekend by sweeping Alabama State, 3-0.

UCF will take the court in The Venue once more later in the week, hosting Florida State on Thursday at 7 p.m. and North Texas at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

For all of the team’s post-game press conferences during the weekend, check out our UCF Volleyball playlist on the Black and Gold Banneret YouTube channel.

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Women’s Soccer rebounds from Top 10 loss with win over FAU

The UCF Women’s Soccer team won its 500th match in program history on Sunday night with a 2-1 victory over FAU.

Forward Ellie Moreno sent both goals into the net with assists from fellow forward Dayana Martin.

The win came after a close 1-0 loss to #6 Penn State in Happy Valley.

Goalkeeper Caroline DeLisle recorded 10 saves, the most she’s recorded in a single match since her 11-save game against SMU on Sep. 30, 2021, as the Nittany Lions sent 26 shots her way, 12 of them on goal.

Midfielder Sanja Homann was issued a red card in the 52nd minute, which ejected her from the match and suspended her for the Knights’ matchup with FAU. Despite only playing with 10 players, the match remained scoreless until Nittany Lion defender Mieke Schiemann scored in the 88th minute.

The Knights will close non-conference play at 6 p.m. on Sunday against USF.

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Cross Country Opens Season in Boca Raton

The UCF Cross Country team began its 2023 season under new coach Bryan Harmon Friday night in Boca Raton in the FAU Invitational.

The Knights finished in second place as a team with 53 points, coming 15 points behind first-place Miami.

Three UCF runners did finish in the Top 10 overall individually, led by senior Mariana Rodriguez, who finished in eighth with an 18:23.55.

The Knights will take the course again on Sep. 30 at 10:15 a.m. in the Louisville Classic.

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Knight of the Week

UCF Head Coach Jenny Maurer

Mauer became the first UCF head coach in the Division I era to start the season 5-0 in their first season as head coach with a win over Mississippi State. At 6-1, Mauer is off to the best start for a first-year Head Volleyball Coach since UCF Athletics Hall-of-Famer Lucy McDaniel in 1975.

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Knights Play of the Week

Ellie Moreno goes back heel for one of her two goals against FAU