UCF Knights men's soccer

Last updated

UCF Knights men's soccer
Soccerball current event.svg 2023 UCF Knights men's soccer team
UCF Knights logo.svg
Founded1975;49 years ago (1975)
University University of Central Florida
Head coach Scott Calabrese (7th season)
Conference Sun Belt
Location Orlando, Florida
Stadium UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
(Capacity: 2,000)
Nickname UCF Knights
ColorsBlack and gold [1]
   
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Home
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Away
NCAA Tournament Round of 16
2019, 2020
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
NCAA Tournament appearances
1982, 1983, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
1979, 1980, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2020
Conference Regular Season championships
2003, 2004, 2018, 2019, 2020

The UCF Knights men's soccer team represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. As of the next NCAA men's soccer season in 2023, the Knights compete in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). This coincides with UCF's July 2023 move from the American Athletic Conference (The American), a league in which it had been a member since 2013, [2] to the Big 12 Conference, which sponsors soccer only for women. [3] They play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium. The Knights are currently led by head coach Scott Calabrese. [4]

Contents

History

The Knights soccer program began in 1975 under Jim Rudy. The Knights went 10–4–1 that year, defeating St. Leo in their first match 8–0. [5] In 1984, the team made the move to Division I. The Knights were nationally ranked for the first time during the 2010 season, and rose to a program high of No. 8 during the 2011 season. [5] [6] [7]

After UCF announced its move to the Big 12, it was forced to find a new home for men's soccer because the Big 12 only sponsors soccer for women. School officials expected to join the SBC, which reinstated men's soccer for the 2022 season with a lineup that significantly included the only then-current Big 12 member with a men's soccer program (West Virginia) and both Southeastern Conference schools that sponsor varsity men's soccer (Kentucky and South Carolina). [8] This was confirmed on June 21, 2022, when the SBC officially announced UCF's 2023 arrival as a men's soccer member. It created two derbies: the Big 12 Derby against West Virginia, and the Big 12-SEC Challenge featuring both with Kentucky and South Carolina.

The Knights have an all-time record of 422–330–76. [9]

Players

Current roster

As of 9 Sep 2024 [10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Germany.svg  GER Timo Haböck
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alex Smith
3 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Gwendal Degorce
4 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Jonas Fritschi
5 MF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Ousmane Ba
6 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Anderson Rosa
7 FW Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Mouhamed Pouye
8 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Yanis Belatrache
9 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Lucca Dourado
10 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Clarence Awoudor
11 FW Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Malang Mandiang
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gabi Velez
13 DF Flag of Israel.svg  ISR Ron Ben Dakon
14 FW Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Fabio Guerreiro
No.Pos.NationPlayer
15 MF Flag of Israel.svg  ISR Itai Levisman
16 DF Flag of Costa Rica.svg  CRC Timothy Arias
17 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Joey Mueller
18 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Javier López Sánchez
19 MF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Sora Funakoshi
20 DF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Daisuke Shinko
21 FW Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Emmanuel Bam
22 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Drew Hansen
23 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Arne Michaelis
24 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Carlos Rojas
26 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shane Wright
27 GK Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Pablo Ossabal
31 GK Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Juanvi Muñoz

Notable alumni

UCF has produced a number of notable soccer stars. Most notably, Eric Vasquez, Sean Johnson and Ryan McIntosh. [11] Vasquez, who made his professional soccer debut with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, later played for Miami FC in the United Soccer Leagues' First Division and the Orlando Sharks of the Major Indoor Soccer League before retiring due to injury. [12] Former Knights Goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh initially played with D.C. United, and after a year with the D.C. United Reserve team, McIntosh signed with the Atlanta Silverbacks of USL Division One, where he led the team to the league final. [13] [14] [15] Both players were a part of the 2004 Central Florida Kraze amateur soccer team that won the Premier Development League's championship by defeating the Boulder Rapids Reserves, 1–0 at the UCF soccer stadium. [16] In 2019, two of players got selected in the MLS SuperDraft that took place in Chicago.Striker Cal Jennings was picked number 15th in the first round by the FC Dallas and Defender Jonathan Dean got selected 32nd in the second round of the draft by Orlando City Soccer Club.

Sean Johnson, another former UCF goalkeeper, joined the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in 2010. [17] He was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team which qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. [11]

Coaches

All-time coaches

TenureCoachSeasonsRecordPct.
1975–1988Jim Rudy14139–62–17.638
1989–1992Bill Barker427–39–4.386
1993–2004Bob Winch12112–100–16.491
2005–2006Brent Erwin213–17–3.394
2007–2016 Bryan Cunningham 657–53–20.515
2017–presentScott Calabrese336–12–7.718
Totals6 coaches45 seasons384–287–71.565
Records are through the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA Season.

Seasons

SeasonCoachRecordNotes
OverallConference
Independent
1975Jim Rudy10–4–1—
197615–1–1—
Sunshine State
1977Jim Rudy11–4–04–0–0
19784–8–01–2–0
19798–7–03–1–0Sunshine State Tournament Champions
198012–3–13–0–0Sunshine State Tournament Champions
198110–3–13–1–1Sunshine State Tournament Champions
198210–4–24–3–0 NCAA Division II Tournament
198312–4–34–2–0 NCAA Division II Tournament
Independent
1984Jim Rudy8–5–3—
198510–2–3—
19869–5–1—
198710–8–0—
198810–4–1—
1989Bill Barker6–10–2—
19908–10–0—
19915–13–0—
19928–6–2—
Trans America Athletic Conference/Atlantic Sun Conference
1993Bob Winch4–10–13–4–0
19949–10–22–3–1
19955–11–12–3–1
199610–7–14–2–0TAAC East Division Champions
199712–6–03–5–0
199813–7–06–1–0
199912–7–03–3–0
20002–14–31–4–1
200112–7–04–3–0
200210–8–35–2–1Atlantic Sun Tournament Champions; NCAA First round
200312–6–36–2–1Atlantic Sun Regular Season and Tournament Champions;
NCAA Second round
200411–7–27–2–0Atlantic Sun Regular Season and Tournament Champions;
NCAA Second round
Conference USA
2005Brent Erwin7–8–12–6–1
20066–9–23–3–2
2007Bryan Cunningham4–12–20–6–2
20087–11–13–4–1
20096–7–32–5–1
201012–5–34–1–3 NCAA Second round
201112–6–34–3–1 NCAA Second round
20128–7–35–3–0
American Athletic
2013Bryan Cunningham8–5–54–1–3
2014Bryan Cunningham2–10–61–3–4
2015Bryan Cunningham7–8–23–4–1
2016Bryan Cunningham5–11–05–3–0
2017Scott Calabrese8–6–24–2–1
2018Scott Calabrese13–3–35–1–1American Regular Season Champions; NCAA Second round
2019Scott Calabrese15–3–26–0–1American Regular Season Champions; NCAA Third round
2020–21Scott Calabrese9–4–17–3–0American Regular Season & Tournament Champions; NCAA Third round
2021Scott Calabrese9–8–06–4–0
2022Scott Calabrese6–7–03–6–0
Sun Belt
2023Scott Calabrese
Totals422–330–76133–102–28828 games (.556)
Records are through the conclusion of the 2022 NCAA season.

Stadium

UCF Soccer and Track Stadium, home venue UCFTrackandSoccerComplex.jpg
UCF Soccer and Track Stadium, home venue

The Knights play their home games at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium which is a part of Knights Plaza, located on the north end of UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The soccer field is made of natural grass and measures 347 feet (106 m) x 200 feet (61 m). [18]

In 2011, the stadium was heavily renovated, boasting a 2,000 seat capacity with a new 1,475-seat stand, press box, 7,500 square feet (700 m2) clubhouse, restrooms and new entrance on the west side of the facility. The original 500-seat stand was retained as a visitors' stand. [19]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Colors | University of Central Florida Brand Guide" . Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  2. ↑ McMurphy, Brett (April 3, 2013). "Old Big East now American Athletic". ESPN. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  3. ↑ "UCF Men's Soccer to Join Sun Belt Conference in Fall 2023" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ UCF Knights – Official Athletics Site – Men's Soccer Roster [usurped] . Ucfathletics.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  5. 1 2 2011 UCF Men's Soccer Yearbook. Issuu.com (September 14, 2011). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  6. ↑ No. 8 UCF's Historic Unbeaten Streak Halted [usurped] . Ucfathletics.com (September 24, 2011). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ "UCF in the midst of its best sports year ever". Orlando Sentinel. December 27, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  8. ↑ Podcast where UCF athletics department said they expect to join the Sun Belt in 2023.
  9. ↑ "Men's Soccer Archives". UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ "2024 Men's Soccer".
  11. 1 2 Salvas, Pat (January 25, 2011). "Former UCF Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Makes Debut with U.S. Men's National Team". UCFAthletics.com. Orlando, Florida: University of Central Florida. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ UCF Athletics Player Bio: Eric Vasquez [usurped] . Ucfathletics.com (November 18, 1982). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ Ryan McIntosh. D.C.United (March 28, 2006). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  14. ↑ Silverbacks Edge Out Charlotte In 1-0 Win. Atlantasilverbacks.com (June 26, 2007). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  15. ↑ Sounders Win Championship Rematch. Soccernet.espn.go.com (May 5, 2008). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ Central Florida Wins 2004 PDL Title. Pdl.uslsoccer.com (August 7, 2004). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  17. ↑ 2010 MLS SuperDraft Archived January 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ UCF Soccer and Track Stadium. Ucfathletics.cstv.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  19. ↑ UCF to Open New Stadium With Thursday's Twilight Meet. Ucfathletics.cstv.com (May 3, 2011). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
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