Over this past week, the UCF Knights sports world has seen both of its soccer teams nearing the end of their non-conference slates while the volleyball team hit the road for the first time in the Matt Botsford Era.
We also have our Knight of the Week and Play of the Week in this Monday, Sept. 8 edition of Knight Cap:
Women’s Soccer Clipped by FIU
The UCF Women’s Soccer team’s historic start to its season came to an end Thursday night against FIU, 1-0.
The Panthers got the night’s only goal in the eighth
minute thanks to forward Montelene Dymond, then proceeded to hold off the Knights’ attack for the rest of the match.
“It was a quick counterattack, caught us off guard earlier in the game,” defender Jada Silvest said. “I just think we all weren’t locked in; we weren’t playing our game, but once we did lock in, we did create the chances. It just didn’t go our way.”
While Preseason All-C-USA goalkeeper Valery Restrepo did get two saves for FIU, it also stacked its backline during the second half, emphasizing their defense to hold on to its small lead.
“We kept fighting,” head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said after the match. “I mean, we looked a lot more dangerous as the game went on. We had really good chances, quality chances, that we just didn’t put away today.”
The loss cuts UCF’s longest season-opening winning streak since its inaugural season in 1981, when it was an AIAW team, to five matches. This puts the Knights at 5-1 entering its final non-conference matchup: a road tilt against North Florida on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer Draws vs. South Florida
The UCF Men’s Soccer team drew with #22 South Florida Thursday night.
The tie came despite an offensive onslaught from the Knights (1-3-1) throughout the night, out-shooting the Bulls 19-8.
South Florida’s (2-0-3) fourth-minute goal was just one of only two shots on goal of the whole match. UCF, meanwhile, finished with 10 shots on goal, four of them coming from forward Lilian Ricol.
The Knights tied things up in the 26th minute, with Ricol and forward Claudel N’Goubou earning the assists in a goal from fellow forward Clarence Awoudor, his second of the season.
Despite UCF’s defensive efforts most of the night, the Bulls got another scoring opportunity late in the match. Goalkeeper Juanvi Munoz got in front of it, though, earning his only save of the night.
The Knights return home to wrap their non-conference slate on Thursday at 7 p.m. as they take on Jacksonville.
Volleyball Takes Two of Three in Miami
Bringing the heat to Miami, the Knights rolled into Ocean Bank Convocation Center ready to battle the Stetson Hatters, Miami Hurricanes and FIU Panthers in the 305 Challenge last weekend.
On Friday evening, the Knights cruised past the Hatters in three straight sets (25-9, 25-15, 25-11), making Matt Botsford just the second head coach in program history to start his career 4-0.
The Hurricanes flipped the script on Saturday night, outlasting the Knights in all three sets (26-24, 23-25, 27-25) to secure the sweep. With 17 lead changes and 35 ties, it was a back-and-forth showdown, but UCF couldn’t quite seal the deal.
Botsford and the Black and Gold bounced back on Sunday afternoon, closing the weekend with a four-set win over the Panthers (25-15, 25-19, 17-25, 25-16). Four Knights reached double-digit kills, with outside hitter Skylar English leading the charge at 15.
The Knights head back home to The Venue for another three-match weekend, gearing up for a showdown with Arkansas State on Friday at 7 p.m., Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Brown on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Knight of the Week
Skylar English, Volleyball
The FGCU transfer led the way for the Knights with 12 digs Friday night against Stetson, but it was her Sunday performance against FIU that put her in the UCF record books.
She logged 15 kills and 10 digs, leading the team in both stats, but she also notched eight aces, tied for the second-most in a single match in program history. It’s the first time a Knight has gotten eight aces or more in a single match since 2007, according to the UCF Volleyball record book.
Play of the Week
Juanvi Munoz Preserves War On I-4 Draw
On Tap This Week
Monday-Tuesday
- Women’s Golf at Cougar Classic
Thursday
- Women’s Soccer @ North Florida — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Men’s Soccer vs. Jacksonville — 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Friday
- Cross Country at Southern Showcase — 9:30 a.m.
- Volleyball vs. Arkansas State — 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday
- Volleyball vs. Florida Atlantic — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sunday
- Volleyball vs. Brown — 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
