ORLANDO, FLORIDA - The UCF Knights remained on a roll, defeating visiting Ga. Southern 3-0 on a chilly Friday evening. The sold-out crowd at UCF Soccer and Track Stadium witnessed a dominant performance from the home side, who improved their record to 4-5-1 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
The match got off to a blistering start for UCF, with Lilian Ricol scoring the opening goal in the 6th minute. Clarence Awoudor provided the assist on the play, setting the tone for what would be a memorable night. Just nine minutes later, UCF doubled their lead when Claudel N'goubou finished a beautiful through ball from Awoudor in the 15th minute. The Knights continued to press their advantage, and Joey Mueller made it 3-0 with a well-taken goal in the 19th minute, assisted by Malick Thiaw. The scoreline remained unchanged at halftime, with UCF holding a commanding 3-0 lead.
Ga. Southern, who had come into the match riding an 8-2-1 overall record, struggled to find their footing against the Knights' stout defense. Despite outnumbering UCF in corner kicks 6-3, the Eagles failed to capitalize on their set-piece opportunities. UCF's goalkeeper made two crucial saves to preserve the shutout, while his counterpart faced six shots on goal and made three saves. The home side controlled possession and outshot their opponents 16-5, with six of those shots finding the target.
The second half saw UCF continue to dominate possession, but Ga. Southern began to create more scoring chances. The Eagles threw everything at the UCF defense, but the Knights held firm. UCF's backline, marshaled by Thiaw, remained resolute, and the team saw out the final 45 minutes without conceding. The win marked UCF's second consecutive victory, continuing their current streak. For Ga. Southern, it was their second straight loss, snapping their previous unbeaten run.
UCF's victory was built on their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. They converted three goals from 16 shot attempts, demonstrating clinical finishing when it mattered most. In contrast, Ga. Southern's 5 shot attempts yielded nothing, as they failed to trouble the UCF goalkeeper. The difference in efficiency was stark, with UCF's frontline proving too potent for the Eagles' defense. The match also saw a yellow card issued to each team, with UCF's Malick Thiaw and Ga. Southern's defender being cautioned.
The win sets UCF up for their next challenge: facing Bradley in their upcoming match. The Knights will look to continue their winning ways against the new opponent. Meanwhile, Ga. Southern will regroup and prepare to host Mercer, seeking to end their current losing streak. As UCF basks in the glory of their 3-0 victory, they will be keenly aware of the need to maintain their form in the face of stiff competition ahead.
With this win, UCF moves forward with momentum, having outshot Ga. Southern 16-5 and holding a clear advantage in shots on goal (6-2). The Knights' next test will be a telling one, as they look to build on their current two-match winning streak. For now, they can take pride in a job well done against a competitive Ga. Southern side.