The #5 UCF Knights secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the #4 Ga. Southern Eagles, with Drew Hansen netting the winner in the 103rd minute, in front of a crowd of 657 at Eagle Field.
The match got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to create scoring opportunities. However, in the 34th minute, Ricky Louis broke the deadlock, converting a pass from Emil Seedorff Sorensen to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The Knights pushed hard for an equalizer, but the Eagles' defense held strong, limiting them to just 4 shots on goal in the first half. Despite being outshot, the Knights' 7 corner kicks kept the Eagles' defense on their toes, with goalkeeper making 2 crucial saves to preserve the lead.
The second half was a different story, as the Knights came out aggressive, earning 3 corner kicks in the first 10 minutes. Their persistence paid off in the 63rd minute, when Harry Dale scored the equalizer. Just 31 seconds later, Clarence Awoudor gave the Knights the lead, finishing a through ball from Lilian Ricol and Mateus Dejesus. The Eagles refused to give up, and in the 66th minute, Lilian Ricol scored an own goal, tying the match at 2-2. The Knights' Lilian Ricol and Kenn Muendo combined for 2 assists, while the Eagles' Ricky Louis and Harry Dale scored crucial goals.
As the match headed into extra time, both teams created scoring chances, but it was the Knights who capitalized. In the 103rd minute, Drew Hansen scored the winner, assisted by Lilian Ricol, securing the 3-2 victory for the Knights. The win marked the Knights' first victory in their last 4 matches, improving their record to 8-6-3, while the Eagles suffered their first loss in 2 games, dropping to 13-4-1. The Knights' 7 shots on goal and 14 shot attempts reflected their attacking prowess, while the Eagles' 4 shots on goal and 7 shot attempts highlighted their struggles to create scoring opportunities.
The loss was a setback for the Eagles, who had been riding a 6-game unbeaten streak in conference play. Despite the defeat, the Eagles remain in contention for a top seed in the conference tournament, with a 6-3 record in conference play. The Knights, on the other hand, improved their conference record to 4-3-2, keeping their postseason hopes alive. With the win, the Knights moved up in the rankings, while the Eagles dropped to 4th in the conference standings.
In the end, the Knights' ability to capitalize on their scoring chances proved to be the difference, as they outshot the Eagles 14-7 and earned 7 corner kicks to the Eagles' 4. The Eagles' goalkeeper made 4 crucial saves, but it was not enough to secure the win.