(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Match Recap
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida won its preseason opener against the University of Tampa at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex by a score of 9-1 on a clear Tuesday evening. This was the first of two preseason games for the Knights as well as first-year head coach Scott Calabrese’s first game in charge after joining from Florida International University in the offseason.
After an uncertain start, the Knights began to dominate the match by breaking quickly, playing neat through balls to the wings and crossing quality balls into the danger zone. This type of aggressive play created a five-goal gap before the halftime break.
“The attitude of the team was good. We worked hard. When we made mistakes, we didn’t dwell on them,” Calabrese said after the match. “It is an important game because it is a game that we are going to look to, to judge how we can improve.”
Although preseason results are not an indicator of conference play, a strong start is good for team mentality and fine-tuning aspects from training heading into a frantic collegiate season.
“We ultimately performed fairly well in a lot of the things that we trained throughout the week, and so as I judge the performance at this point in the season, I want to see us instituting the ideas that we have from training,” Calabrese said. “How we are going to build out of the back? How we are going to move the ball side to side, to try to possess the ball to open teams up and to go forward from there?”
Knights midfielder Ricardo Oliveros had his way with the Spartans’ defense, tallying two goals and one assist. His direct style caused havoc in his first game for the Knights after transferring from the University of Louisville over the summer as a junior.
“The team performed really well. We had high expectations from the beginning anyway,” Oliveros said after the match. “We had a lot of team chemistry. It clearly shows we can score, which is a very big part. Nine goals isn’t something you hear often.”
Calabrese was more than impressed with his new player and is excited to work with him going forward.
“Ricardo, I knew him from his time down at Weston (Florida) as a youth player and have always thought highly of him,” Calabrese said. “I was satisfied with his performance, and I actually think the best is yet to come from Ricardo when he gets fit and gets sharp.”
Sophomore forward Cal Jennings and freshman Brandon Golding also recorded braces of their own. Richard Amon, Gorka Aperribay and Noah Murphy each got on the scoresheet, too.
Finnish playmaker Matias Pyysalo is projected to be the Offensive Player of the Year for the 2017 season in the American Athletic Conference after scoring 10 goals last season, six of those coming in conference play. Pyysalo doesn’t feel any extra pressure despite being a senior this season but simply wants to perform as a leader on and off the pitch.
“It doesn’t bring me any external pressure. Already, last season it was my goal to score a lot of goals and help the team in that way. The team always comes first,” Pyysalo said.
Man of the Match: Ricardo Oliveros
Oliveros helped the Knights get off to their hot start in the first half with his two goals and assist.
What’s next?
The next game for the Knights is the second and final preseason friendly at home against Georgia Southern University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Competitive play begins on Aug. 25 with an away matchup at Duke University.
Highlights
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NDR Notes
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UCF Knights starting lineup (n/a): n/a
Tampa Spartans starting lineup (n/a): n/a
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