Knights set to take on Orlando City

Knights set to take on Orlando City

   Moving right along with its spring season, the UCF Knights men’s soccer team has another professional team on its radar.

   On Sunday, the Knights will play local professional team and MLS-expansion candidate Orlando City at 1 p.m. at the UCF Track and Soccer Complex. The spring season has gone well so far for a program that is looking to continue playing at a top-25 level.

   “It is a great group and they want to keep carrying the weight of being a top-25 program and inching toward a conference championship and national championship,” head coach Bryan Cunningham said in a release. “They have been tremendous to work with this spring.”

Freshman sprinter receives highest C-USA honor

   UCF freshman sprinter Octavious Freeman was named Conference USA Indoor Female Track Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.

   Freeman is the first freshman in C-USA history to be awarded the honor which was voted on by the league’s head track and field coaches.

   Senior Jackie Coward received the honor last year, meaning the Knights have had back-to-back Female Athlete of the Year honorees. Among other things, Freeman finished second in the nation in the 60 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 7.15 seconds.

Knights place second in home tournament

   The No. 18 UCF Knights men’s golf team placed second at the Rio Pinar Invitational. The Knights finished the two-day tournament, featuring 15 teams, at 16-under 848.

   Wichita State took the team title at 844 (-20). UCF finished ahead of Florida Gulf Coast (850, -14).

UCF placed four Knights in the top 20, with Ricardo Gouveia leading the way with his third-place finish at 7-under 209.

   Next up for UCF is the BancorpSouth Intercollegiate in Madison, Miss., which starts play on April 2.

Bouye coming along in recovery process

   Senior cornerback A.J. Bouye’s recovery from a torn knee ligament will make a huge difference for the Knights’ fortunes as far as the secondary goes. Bouye looks to be a leader in the defensive backfield for UCF after the departure of Josh Robinson to the NFL.

   Currently, Bouye is sporting a bulky knee brace during practices and is not allowed to hit. Bouye is re-learning to trust his knee, a difficult process.

   “He’ll be ready for the preseason, no question,” head coach George O’Leary said. “Those guys can practice now, but there’s no reason to take a chance now [with contact].”

— compiled by Steven Ryzewski