ORLANDO, FLORIDA — UCF rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit to defeat Fla. Atlantic 3-2 on Thursday in NCAA Division I Championship action before 1,358 spectators, extending their winning streak to four consecutive matches.
Fla. Atlantic controlled the opening half and established a 2-0 advantage, but the Knights (11-6-3) stormed back after intermission. Andreas Raisanen cut the deficit in the 56th minute with an assist from Mamadou Diarra, then Lilian Ricol equalized two minutes later in the 58th minute, assisted by Joey Mueller and Clarence Awoudor.
Mamadou Diarra restored Fla. Atlantic's lead in the 80th minute off an Aboubacar Traore assist, but UCF answered immediately when Clarence Awoudor scored the decisive goal in the 81st minute to complete the comeback.
UCF outshot the Owls 14-11 overall and 6-4 on target. Fla. Atlantic (12-4-2) earned seven corner kicks to UCF's five but couldn't convert set-piece opportunities.
Gwendal Eugène Degorce received a yellow card for UCF, while Caleb Chapman and Felipe Santos were cautioned for Fla. Atlantic.