UCF Knights men's soccer explained

UCF Knights men's soccer
University:University of Central Florida
Conference:Sun Belt Conference
Conference Short:Sun Belt
City:Orlando
State:Florida
Stateabb:FL
Coach:Scott Calabrese
Tenure:7th
Stadium:UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
Capacity:2,000
Nickname:UCF Knights
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Ncaasweetsixteen:2019, 2020
Ncaaroundof32:2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
Ncaatourneys:1982, 1983, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
Conference Tournament:1979, 1980, 1981, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2020
Conference Season:2003, 2004, 2018, 2019, 2020
Current:2023 UCF Knights men's soccer team

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,[1] to the Big 12 Conference, which sponsors soccer only for women.[2] 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.[3]

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. 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.[4] [5] [6]

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).[7] 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.[8]

Players

Current roster

[9]

Notable alumni

UCF has produced a number of notable soccer stars. Most notably, Eric Vasquez, Sean Johnson and Ryan McIntosh. 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.[10] 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.[11] [12] [13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]

Coaches

All-time coaches

width= px style=""Tenurewidth= px style=""Coachwidth= px style=""Seasonswidth= px style=""Recordwidth= px style=""Pct.
1975–1988 Jim Rudy 14 139–62–17 .638
1989–1992 Bill Barker 4 27–39–4 .386
1993–2004 Bob Winch 12 112–100–16 .491
2005–2006 Brent Erwin 2 13–17–3 .394
2007–2016 6 57–53–20
2017–present Scott Calabrese 3 36–12–7
width= px style=""Totalswidth= px style=""6 coacheswidth= px style=""45 seasonswidth= px style=""384–287–71width= px style=""
Records are through the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA Season.

Seasons

SeasonCoachRecordNotes
width:70px style=""Overall width:40px style=""Conference
1975Jim Rudy10–4–1—
197615–1–1—
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
198210–4–24–3–0NCAA Division II Tournament
198312–4–34–2–0NCAA Division II Tournament
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—
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
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
201012–5–34–1–3NCAA Second round
201112–6–34–3–1NCAA Second round
20128–7–35–3–0
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
align=center 2020–21align=center Scott Calabresealign=center 9–4–1align=center 7–3–0align=center American Regular Season & Tournament Champions; NCAA Third round
align=center 2021align=center Scott Calabresealign=center 9–8–0align=center 6–4–0align=center
align=center 2022align=center Scott Calabresealign=center 6–7–0align=center 3–6–0align=center
align=center 2023align=center Scott Calabresealign=center align=center align=center
Totals422–330–76133–102–28828 games
Records are through the conclusion of the 2022 NCAA season.

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 347feet x 200feet.[17]

In 2011, the stadium was heavily renovated, boasting a 2,000 seat capacity with a new 1,475-seat stand, press box, 7500square feet clubhouse, restrooms and new entrance on the west side of the facility. The original 500-seat stand was retained as a visitors' stand.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McMurphy. Brett. Old Big East now American Athletic. April 3, 2013 . ESPN. 4 April 2013.
  2. UCF Men's Soccer to Join Sun Belt Conference in Fall 2023 . Sun Belt Conference . June 21, 2022 . June 22, 2022.
  3. . Ucfathletics.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  4. http://issuu.com/ucfmbbguide/docs/2011_ucf_m_soccer_guide 2011 UCF Men's Soccer Yearbook
  5. . Ucfathletics.com (September 24, 2011). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  6. News: UCF in the midst of its best sports year ever . 2010-12-27 . 2011-01-02 . Orlando Sentinel.
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzeUZ2I1SRI Podcast where UCF athletics department said they expect to join the Sun Belt in 2023.
  8. Web site: Men's Soccer Archives . 2023-08-13 . UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website.
  9. Web site: 2024 Men's Soccer .
  10. . Ucfathletics.com (November 18, 1982). Retrieved on November 16, 2011.
  11. http://www.dcunited.com/player/ryan-mcintosh Ryan McIntosh
  12. http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/news/displaynews.php?id=471=1 Silverbacks Edge Out Charlotte In 1-0 Win
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313164907/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=532119&cc=5739 Sounders Win Championship Rematch
  14. http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/80417.html Central Florida Wins 2004 PDL Title
  15. http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/superdraft/2010/draft_tracker.jsp 2010 MLS SuperDraft
  16. Web site: Former UCF Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Makes Debut with U.S. Men's National Team. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418235958/http://www.ucfathletics.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/012511aaa.html. usurped. April 18, 2012. Salvas. Pat. January 25, 2011. UCFAthletics.com. University of Central Florida. November 8, 2011. Orlando, Florida.
  17. http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/facilities/ucf-track-soccer-complex.html UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
  18. http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/050311aaa.html UCF to Open New Stadium With Thursday's Twilight Meet

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