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]
| UCF Knights men's soccer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 2023 UCF Knights men's soccer team | |||
 | |||
| Founded | 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 | ||
| Colors | Black and gold[1] | ||
| |||
| 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 | |||
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 2 August [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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | MF |  FRA | Yanis Belatrache |
| 20 | DF |  CRC | Brandon Calderon |
| 21 | FW |  GHA | Emmanuel Bam |
| 22 | MF |  USA | Drew Hansen |
| 23 | DF |  GER | Arne Michaelis |
| 24 | MF | USA | AJ Seals |
| 26 | GK | USA | Shane Wright |
| 27 | GK |  COL | Pablo Ossabal |
| 28 | FW | USA | Junior Trucillo |
| 29 | FW | USA | Joey Mueller |
| 30 | MF |  ISR | Itai Levisman |
| 31 | GK |  ESP | Juanvi Muñoz |
Coaches
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Seasons
| Season | Coach | Record | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | ||||
| 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]
