Over this past week, the UCF Knights sports world saw one team wrap up its regular season and another compete in a conference championship.
We also have our Knight of the Week and Play of the Week in this
Monday, Nov. 3 edition of KnightCap.
Contents:
- Women’s Soccer Wraps Regular Season With Scoreless Draw
- Men’s Soccer Caps Unbeaten Month
- Volleyball Downs #17 BYU, Falls to Utah
- Cross Country Competes In Big 12 Championship
- Knight of the Week: Clarence Awoudor, Men’s Soccer
- Knights Play of the Week: Genesis Perez Watson
- On Tap This Week
Women’s Soccer Wraps Regular Season With Scoreless Draw
The UCF Women’s Soccer team wrapped its regular season with a 0-0 draw against #15 Texas Tech on Thursday.
It was the fifth draw of the season for the Knights (11-2-5, 5-1-5 Big 12) and gives them the sixth seed in the Big 12 tournament. The draw keeps UCF unbeaten against ranked opponents this season, finishing with a 2-0-1 record.
Goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson recorded her seventh shutout of the season to keep the match tied from start to finish. Despite Texas Tech having a 5-2 shot on goal advantage, the Knights were able to keep the Red Raiders scoreless.
UCF will begin its third Big 12 tournament on Monday at 9 p.m. against 3-seed Colorado in Fort Worth, Texas.
Men’s Soccer Caps Unbeaten Month
The UCF Men’s Soccer team gave spectators a treat on Halloween night with a victory over Coastal Carolina, 3-1.
The Knights’ defense kept the Chanticleer attack at bay, allowing just six shots to get off towards goalkeeper Juanvi Munoz. Though the one shot that was on target made it into the net.
As for the Knights’ attack, forward Clarence Awoudor earned his first career brace with goals in the 19th and 74th minutes, his fourth and fifth goals of the season.
Awoudor’s fellow forward, who assisted him on the latter goal, Claudel N’goubou, picked up a goal of his own, his fourth of the season, in the 31st minute on a putback.
The win extends the Knights’ unbeaten streak to seven matches, all of which have been in the month of October. It also puts the Knights in fifth place in the Sun Belt standings going into its regular season finale on the road against #11 Marshall on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
However, sitting at #62 in the RPI rankings, a win against the Thundering Herd would prove crucial for a UCF team building a case for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Volleyball Downs #17 BYU, Falls to Utah
The UCF volleyball team earned a four-set victory (27-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21) over the #17 BYU Cougars on Wednesday in Provo, Utah, marking the Knights’ first road win against a ranked opponent since defeating #23 Kansas in 2022.
Read more in Cassidy Mills and Bryson Turner’s full recap of the BYU match here.
Just two days later, the Knights couldn’t sustain their momentum, falling in straight sets (17-25, 19-25, 22-25) to the Utah Utes on Friday night and slipping to 4-7 in conference play.
Both teams opened the first set evenly at 3-3, but a UCF attack error gave Utah a 4-3 edge, and the Knights were unable to even the score again, falling 17-25 in the opening frame.
Set two featured seven tied scores, with the Knights battling back each time Utah pulled ahead. Trailing 15-14, UCF couldn’t stop a late Utah surge, as the Utes scored six of the next seven points to take control and close out the set, 25-19.
Down 22-16 in the third set, the Knights chipped away at the Utes’ six-point lead to close the gap to 22-20, but it wasn’t enough as Utah completed the sweep with a 25-22 win. UCF committed 11 of its 27 attack errors in the final set, which hindered its comeback effort.
Outside hitter Avah Armour tallied 14 kills, extending her streak to nine consecutive matches with double-digit kills. On defense, the Knights recorded 31 digs, led by libero Alexa Haley with seven and defensive specialist Reese Moore adding five.
UCF returns home for a 6 p.m. Space Match showdown against Houston on Thursday.
Cross Country Competes In Big 12 Championship
The UCF Cross Country team marked its Halloween with the Big 12 Championship 6K in Lawrence, Kansas.
Sophomore Alexandra Raquet headlined the Knights’ efforts, finishing in 47th overall to lead the team with a 21:03.7 time. While not her personal best, it is still the 10th-fastest 6K time in program history.
The Knights finished in 12th place, the same spot they finished in last season, in the 16-team field with 351 points.
For the full results of the Big 12 Championship 6K, click here.
The Knights will hit the course for potentially the last time this cross country season in the NCAA South Regional in Huntsville, Alabama, on Nov. 14.
Knight of the Week
Clarence Awoudor, Men’s Soccer
See Men’s Soccer section.
Knights Play of the Week
Genesis Perez Watson Gets Save in final seconds vs. Texas Tech, Women’s Soccer
On Tap This Week
Monday
- Women’s Basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Men’s Basketball vs. Hofstra — 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Women’s Soccer vs. Colorado (Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals) — 9 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tuesday
- Men’s Soccer vs. #11 Marshall — 7:15 p.m. (ESPN+)
Wednesday
- Women’s Soccer Big 12 Tournament Semifinal Match (if neccassary) — 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Thursday-Sunday
- Women’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectionals and/or UNF Invite
Thursday-Monday
- Men’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectionals
Thursday
- Volleyball vs. Houston — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Friday
- Baseball (Black & Gold Series) — 12 p.m.
- Football vs. #22 Houston — 8 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
Saturday
- Volleyball vs. Iowa State — 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Men’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt — 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Softball vs. Eastern Florida State College — 5:30 p.m.
- Baseball in Black & Gold Series — 6 p.m.
- Women’s Soccer Big 12 Tournament Championship Match (if necessary) — 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sunday
- Men’s Soccer Sun Belt Tournament Quarterfinal Match — TBA (ESPN+)
- Women’s Basketball vs. Charlotte — 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Baseball in Black & Gold Series — 6 p.m.
