Both UCF Knights Soccer teams are heating up as we move toward conference play in the Fall Sports. Here’s your KnightCap:

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Women’s Soccer scores two dramatic wins in California

UCF Women’s Soccer continued its hot streak with a pair of huge, dramatic late-goal wins all the way out in California.

It began Thursday with a nigh tilt at Long Beach State (RPI #165), where UCF was in a 1-1 deadlock in the final minute until freshman and Winter Park High product Ellie Moreno took matters into her own hands:

Then it was UC-Irvine (RPI #173) who pushed the Knights into extra time on Sunday afternoon. It was scoreless until the 99th minute, when Kristen Scott again came up clutch:

Regardless of the opponent, it’s hard to come up with two clutch wins all the way out west, as head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak can attest to:

Props are also due to the UCF LA-area alumni who made it out to Irvine to watch:

The Knights are on a massive roll right now, with five straight wins and no losses in their last seven matches as they begin the conference slate with two home games this weekend against annual thorn-in-the-side Memphis and Tulsa.

Record: 5-1-2

RPI: #96 (first ranking)

Polls: Receiving votes in United Soccer Coaches

Next Up: Conference play gets underway at home with #11 Memphis (RPI #42, Thursday 6 p.m.) and Tulsa (RPI #211, Sunday 1 p.m.) coming to town.

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Men’s Soccer stays hot against FGCU and South Carolina

A ranked in-state squad and an A5 opponent were no match for UCF Men’s Soccer this past weekend, as these Knights also scored a pair of victories.

First up was a trip down to Fort Myers on Wednesday to face the FGCU Eagles, who were receiving votes in the Top 25 and finished #40 in last year’s RPI.

Yep, didn’t matter. Four goals (two each for Cal Jennings and freshman Gino Vivi) later, UCf was out of there with a 4-1 win:

The Knights were back home to face South Carolina on Sunday, and it was more of the same as Jennings and Louis Perez tallied and Yannick Oettl posted his second clean sheet in the last three for a 2-0 win:

UCF carries its six-game unbeaten streak into conference play this weekend.

Record: 5-1-1

Polls: #12 (up one) in United Soccer Coaches, #14 in Top Drawer Soccer

Next Up: Home conference opener vs. Temple (2-4) Friday at 7 p.m., then out of conference vs. FAU Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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Volleyball slogs through tough weekend vs. in-state squads

UCF Volleyball hosted the Sunshine Classic to close out the non-conferece season, with FGCU, Miami and FAU coming to town. But the outcome was not entirely to the Knights’ liking.

Friday, UCF opened the tournament against the Eagles, who eliminated them from the NCAA Tournament in the first round at The Venue last season. This year FGCU showed why they might be even better, dispatching UCF in four sets after the Knights won the first:

The Eagles would go undefeated in the tournament, while UCF faced a pair of matches the following day against Miami and FAU.

Miami presented a tough test, but one the Knights were up to as they forced a fifth set after being down 2-0. But the Hurricanes hit .471 in the final frame to take the match in a very tight five-set battle.

So then came the night cap against FAU as UCF tried to salvage one victory on the weekend, and did so in a very quick three sets. The Knights out-hit the Owls .353-.116 despite no individual reaching double-digit kills.

So UCF has some ground to make up overall as conference play begins at home this coming weekend. Senior setter Erin Olson said the Knights know it’s time to buckle down:

Record: 7-5

Next Up: Home vs. UConn (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Temple (Sunday, noon)

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Men’s Golf wins in Hartford

Men’s Golf picked up its first tournament win of the 2018-2019 season in South Kent, Connecticut at the Hartford Hawks Invitational. It was he second straight year UCF has won that tournament:

The Knights shot -26 as a team, with four individuals gong under par, led by Johnny Travale at -7 (T-4th). Three other Knights - Jordan Sarhaddi, Clement Charmasson and Tommy Cao - finished tied for 9th or better.

Next Up: Prairie Club Invitational in Valentine, Nebraska, Sunday through Monday.

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Women’s Golf’s Piddon finishes 1st in Nashville

Congrats to UCF freshman Tunrada Piddon from Thailand, who came out on top in the individual phase of the Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville:

Piddon finished -6 with all three rounds below par in just her second college start, as UCF finished 8th as a team.

UCF is now 14th in GolfWeek’s College Rankings.

Next Up: Princess Anne Invitational in Norfolk, Virginia, October 4-6