Over this past week, the UCF Knights sports world has seen one team kick off its season while others played their final matchups of non-conference play.
We also have our Knight of the Week and Play of the Week in this Monday, Sept. 15 edition of Knight Cap:
Women’s Soccer Rebounds To Wrap Non-conference Slate
The UCF Women’s Soccer team rounded out its non-conference slate with a road victory over North Florida on Thursday night.
While the Ospreys (2-5-2), the preseason favorite to win the ASUN title, kept the Knights
(6-1) off the board during the first half, UCF Midfielders Honoka Hamano and Ainsley Moy still each got their second goals of the season. Hamano converted on a shot from outside the penalty box in the 55th minute, while Moy found the back of the net with a 73rd-minute penalty kick.
On the defensive end, the Knights held possession for 62% of the match, but they also limited the Ospreys to just four shots, of which only two were on goal and both were saved by goalkeeper Genesis Perez-Watson.
The win gives UCF its best start through seven matches since 2002.
The Knights kick off their Big 12 slate by hosting West Virginia at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Men’s Soccer Preps For Sun Belt
The UCF Men’s Soccer team capped off its pre-Sun Belt play slate with a 2-0 victory over Jacksonville on Thursday.
Both of the Knights’ (2-3-1) goals came off the head of defender Jem Hewlett with assists from forward Clarence Awoudor, one in the 40th minute and the second in the 70th minute. The brace marks the first two goals of the Englishman’s collegiate career.
UCF also outshot the Dolphins, 13-5, with goalkeeper Juanvi Munoz only needing to record two saves, both in the first half, to get his second shutout of the season.
After going 0-2-1 against Top 25 opponents thus far this season, the Knights begin Sun Belt play on the road at #18 Kentucky on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball Stumbles During Home Tournament
While the UCF Volleyball team went 2-1 over the weekend as it hosted another three teams in The Venue, its one loss came at the hands of a Brown squad that finished #179 in the RPI rankings last season.
View this story from Cassidy Mills for more:
Two Cross Country Runners Get Into Record Books
A pair of new additions to the UCF Cross Country team earned a place in the program’s record books this week as it competed in the Southern Showcase 5K in Huntsville, Alabama.
In an opportunity to preview the course that will host the NCAA South Regional later this fall, sophomore Yvone Sandui led the way by finishing 19th in the 480-runner field with a 17:11.84 time, the third-fastest 5K time in program history. Only UCF Hall-of-Famer Anne-Marie Blaney has recorded faster times.
A few seconds behind Sandui, Louisville transfer Alexandra Raquet came in 27th with a 7:18.93 time, the eighth-fastest 5K time in program history.
For the full results of the Southern Showcase 5K, click here.
As a squad, the Knights finished 10th among the 52-team field with 334 points, averaging a 17:46.98 time with its top five runners and beating out fellow Florida teams like Miami (13th) and #27 Florida State (14th).
The Knights have a long break before they hit the course one more time before the Big 12 Championship with the Bradley Pink Classic 6K on Oct. 17 at 3:15 p.m.
Women’s Golf Delivers Top-Four Finish in Cougar Classic
The UCF Women’s Golf team swung big at Yeamans Hall Club, earning a fourth-place finish at the two-day Cougar Classic in Charleston, South Carolina.
The tournament featured some of the biggest names in college golf, including Ole Miss, Florida, LSU and Auburn—all preseason top-25 teams. Ole Miss walked away with the title at 18-under, but UCF showed it could hang with the nation’s best.
Junior Molly Smith and senior Pimpisa “Sandwich” Sisutham were the highlights for the Knights, both tying for 12th at 211 (two-under). Sisutham stole the show in the final round, vaulting 21 spots with a two-under score, while Smith delivered steady golf capped with a solid 72 (1-over).
Freshman Mila Jurine added excitement with a strong debut, finishing 34th at 215 (two-over) and closing with birdies on her first and last holes. Freshman Kinga Kusmierska and redshirt freshman Tiffany Tsai rounded things out in 42nd and 49th.
The Knights head to Norman, Oklahoma, for the Schooner Invitational from Sept. 20 to Sept. 22, ready to keep the momentum rolling.
Knight of the Week
Jem Hewlett, Men’s Soccer
See Men’s Soccer section.
Knights Play of the Week
Honoka Hamano Scores From Outside the Box, Women’s Soccer
On Tap This Week
Monday-Tuesday
- Men’s Golf at Bearcat Invitational
Tuesday
- Volleyball vs. Baylor — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Thursday
- Women’s Soccer vs. West Virginia — 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Friday
- Volleyball vs. Memphis (in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) — 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Men’s Soccer @ #17 Kentucky — 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday
- Football vs. North Carolina — 3:30 p.m. (Fox)
- Volleyball @ Alabama — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Men’s and Women’s Tennis Begin their respective ITA All-American Championships (Lasts through Sept. 28)
Saturday-Monday
- Women’s Golf at Schooner Invitational
