UCF Knights
men's soccer
2023 UCF Knights men's soccer team
Founded1975 (1975)
UniversityUniversity of Central Florida
Head coachScott Calabrese (7th season)
ConferenceSun Belt
LocationOrlando, Florida
StadiumUCF Soccer and Track Stadium
(Capacity: 2,000)
NicknameUCF Knights
ColorsBlack and gold[1]
   
Home
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]

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.

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

Stadium

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).[10]

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.[11]

Roster

As of August, 2023 [12]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Luciano Natoli
2 D United States USA Zane Bubb
3 DF France FRA Raphael Crivello
4 MF Germany GER Jonas Fritschi
5 MF Senegal SEN Ousmane Ba
6 DF Brazil BRA Anderson Rosa
7 FW Senegal SEN Mouhamed Pouye
8 MF United States USA Beto Ydrach
9 FW Brazil BRA Lucca Dourado
10 FW France FRA Clarence Awoudor
11 FW Senegal SEN Malang Mandiang
12 MF United States USA Robbie Soronellas
13 DF Israel ISR Ron Ben Dakon
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW Portugal POR Fabio Guerreiro
15 MF Finland FIN Saku Heiskanen
16 DF Costa Rica CRC Timothy Arias
17 MF New Zealand NZL Oscar Hough
18 MF France FRA Yanis Belatrache
20 DF Costa Rica CRC Brandon Calderon
21 FW Ghana GHA Emmanuel Bam
22 MF United States USA Drew Hansen
23 DF Germany GER Arne Michaelis
24 MF United States USA AJ Seals
26 GK United States USA Shane Wright
27 GK Colombia COL Pablo Ossabal
28 FW United States USA Junior Trucillo
29 FW United States USA Joey Mueller
30 MF Israel ISR Itai Levisman
31 GK Spain ESP Juanvi Muñoz

Coaches

Tenure Coach Seasons Record Pct.
1975–1988Jim Rudy14139–62–17.638
1989–1992Bill Barker427–39–4.386
1993–2004Bob Winch12112–100–16.491
2005–2006Brent Erwin213–17–3.394
2007–2016Bryan Cunningham657–53–20.515
2017–presentScott Calabrese336–12–7.718
Totals 6 coaches 45 seasons 384–287–71 .565
Records are through the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA Season.

Seasons

Season Coach Record Notes
OverallConference
Independent
1975 Jim Rudy 10–4–1 —
1976 15–1–1 —
Sunshine State Conference
1977 Jim Rudy 11–4–0 4–0–0
1978 4–8–0 1–2–0
1979 8–7–0 3–1–0 Sunshine State Tournament Champions
1980 12–3–1 3–0–0 Sunshine State Tournament Champions
1981 10–3–1 3–1–1 Sunshine State Tournament Champions
1982 10–4–2 4–3–0 NCAA Division II Tournament
1983 12–4–3 4–2–0 NCAA Division II Tournament
Independent
1984 Jim Rudy 8–5–3 —
1985 10–2–3 —
1986 9–5–1 —
1987 10–8–0 —
1988 10–4–1 —
1989 Bill Barker 6–10–2 —
1990 8–10–0 —
1991 5–13–0 —
1992 8–6–2 —
Trans America Athletic Conference/Atlantic Sun Conference
1993 Bob Winch 4–10–1 3–4–0
1994 9–10–2 2–3–1
1995 5–11–1 2–3–1
1996 10–7–1 4–2–0 TAAC East Division Champions
1997 12–6–0 3–5–0
1998 13–7–0 6–1–0
1999 12–7–0 3–3–0
2000 2–14–3 1–4–1
2001 12–7–0 4–3–0
2002 10–8–3 5–2–1 Atlantic Sun Tournament Champions; NCAA First round
2003 12–6–3 6–2–1 Atlantic Sun Regular Season and Tournament Champions;
NCAA Second round
2004 11–7–2 7–2–0 Atlantic Sun Regular Season and Tournament Champions;
NCAA Second round
Conference USA
2005 Brent Erwin 7–8–1 2–6–1
2006 6–9–2 3–3–2
2007 Bryan Cunningham 4–12–2 0–6–2
2008 7–11–1 3–4–1
2009 6–7–3 2–5–1
2010 12–5–3 4–1–3 NCAA Second round
2011 12–6–3 4–3–1 NCAA Second round
2012 8–7–3 5–3–0
American Athletic Conference
2013 Bryan Cunningham 8–5–5 4–1–3
2014 Bryan Cunningham 2–10–6 1–3–4
2015 Bryan Cunningham 7–8–2 3–4–1
2016 Bryan Cunningham 5–11–0 5–3–0
2017 Scott Calabrese 8–6–2 4–2–1
2018 Scott Calabrese 13–3–3 5–1–1 American Regular Season Champions; NCAA Second round
2019 Scott Calabrese 15–3–2 6–0–1 American Regular Season Champions; NCAA Third round
2020–21 Scott Calabrese 9–4–1 7–3–0 American Regular Season & Tournament Champions; NCAA Third round
2021 Scott Calabrese 9–8–0 6–4–0
2022 Scott Calabrese 6–7–0 3–6–0
Sun Belt Conference
2023 Scott Calabrese
Totals 422–330–76 133–102–28 828 games (.556)
Records are through the conclusion of the 2022 NCAA season.

Alumni

UCF has produced a number of notable soccer stars. Most notably, Eric Vasquez, Sean Johnson and Ryan McIntosh.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15][16][17] 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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Colors | University of Central Florida Brand Guide". Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  2. ↑ McMurphy, Brett. "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. ↑ UCF Soccer and Track Stadium. Ucfathletics.cstv.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  11. ↑ UCF to Open New Stadium With Thursday's Twilight Meet. Ucfathletics.cstv.com (May 3, 2011). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  12. ↑ https://ucfknights.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster?sort=jersey_number
  13. 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)
  14. ↑ UCF Athletics Player Bio: Eric Vasquez[usurped]. Ucfathletics.com (November 18, 1982). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  15. ↑ Ryan McIntosh. D.C.United (March 28, 2006). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ Silverbacks Edge Out Charlotte In 1-0 Win. Atlantasilverbacks.com (June 26, 2007). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  17. ↑ Sounders Win Championship Rematch. Soccernet.espn.go.com (May 5, 2008). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  18. ↑ Central Florida Wins 2004 PDL Title. Pdl.uslsoccer.com (August 7, 2004). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  19. ↑ 2010 MLS SuperDraft Archived January 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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