Loss makes 2 in a row

The No. 22 Knights (9-4-3) dropped their second straight match to conference opponent No. 25 South Carolina (9-6-1) when the Gamecocks scored with 59 seconds remaining in double overtime. The 1-0 loss was only the second time UCF has been defeated at home this season.

"It's tough losing like that. We had plenty of chances in regulation and our own chances in overtime," coach Bryan Cunningham said. "I feel bad for my guys because we worked hard, and I thought we deserved to win today, but it just wasn't there."

UCF was unable to score in the match despite compiling 17 shots and eight corner kicks. This was just the third match all season in which the Knights were held scoreless. All three scoreless efforts have come in the last six games.

South Carolina's victory keeps the Gamecocks at No. 1 in Conference USA with a 6-1 conference record, eight points ahead of UCF. Both teams came into the match ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

"They're a top-25 team, they have a great RPI, they're well organized, they're well coached, they have some good athletes and they know how to play. They have played in big games all year, and all-in-all it was a pretty even game," Cunningham said on how the teams matched up.

Cunningham wants the team to regroup from the loss and look toward the regular-season finale Saturday against Marshall.

"That's the first time in two years that that team has lost two games in a row, and we have got to bounce back," Cunningham said.