ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After each team scored once in regulation, UCF junior Matias Pyysalo delivered his fifth game-winning and first-career overtime goal in the 93rd minute to lift the Knights over No. 24 UConn on Saturday.
 
One of the vocal leaders on the team, senior Javier Clavijo stepped up and delivered a message to his teammates following regulation.
 
"I told the guys we're at home. We have to go after them," Clavijo said. "We're not going to sit back and wait for anything to happen."
 
Just a little over two minutes after that speech, the Knights responded following a Husky turnover. Sophomore Jonathan Dean played a long ball that bounced over a UConn defender, which sent Pyysalo, along with freshman Cal Jennings, down the right wing. Pyysalo waited for the keeper to come out before firing a shot into the top corner of the net.
 
"Javy really wanted this win tonight," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "He's been a big emotional leader for us this year. From a leadership standpoint, he really carried us through. He told the team we were going to win and they followed."
 
UCF (4-8-0, 2-3-0 The American) registered its first victory in program history over UConn (11-5-0, 3-2-0) in the ninth meeting between the two squads.
 
"There hasn't been a moment this season, despite the ups and downs, that this group has not come out to practice and focused on executing," Cunningham added. "The game plan was executed. We told them it was going to take a special moment to get the win, and tonight we got two special moments."