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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com

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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - For the second league match in a row, UCF recorded a 1-1 draw after opening the scoring against SMU on Saturday night at the UCF Soccer Complex. Junior Romario Williams put the Knights on top in the 49th minute off a free kick, but SMU found the equalizer on a penalty kick with 36 seconds remaining to send the match to overtime, where neither team could find the game winner.

The Knights (1-5-3) opened play in The American with a pair of home draws against Memphis and SMU. SMU moved to 5-3-1 overall and 1-0-1 in league play.

"Free kicks outside the box are something that coach and I have been working on all week during one-on-one sessions," Williams said. "He has taught me to apply the proper technique, get my angles right and the rest became history because I was able to execute."

The goal for the Portmore, Jamaica, native was his team-leading fourth of the campaign and came on a free kick from 20 yards out just to the right of goal following a foul. The strike bent towards the left post and past the out-stretched keeper into the net.

"We let down a little bit tonight after scoring the goal, but I felt that we regained our rhythm again and had plenty of opportunities to generate that second goal," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "We just did not convert those chances and college soccer is what it is and a bad bounce of the ball resulted in the hand ball."

A hand ball in the box charged against the Knights setup the equalizer for John Lujano. He moved to 2-for-2 on penalties this season by hitting the middle of the goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Zach Biggs made five saves during the contest along with his counterpart, Michael Nelson. Both teams fired 13 shots towards the goal.

"We have been improving our defense and working really hard in practice, which shows in the games," senior defender Leonardo Ayala said. "We are working hard and making the game predictable for everybody else, especially our goalkeeper. All our work is starting to pay off."

Leading the Knights with six shots and three on target was Williams. Mauro Cichero led the Mustangs with three on net and a total of eight.

In the first half, the Knights' best opportunity came on a shot on net from the right at the top of the box by freshman Walker Dawkins that was aimed for the far post, which was deflected away from the keeper. The ensuring corner by Dawkins was placed perfectly for sophomore Javier Clavijo, but his header went just over the cross bar in the 18th minute.

Just four minutes into the first overtime period, a pass from junior Hadji Barry on the right wing landed on Williams' foot, but the striker's shot went a hair wide. It would be the best opportunity for the Knights in the overtime sessions.

"I have been looking at patterns since the Indiana game and our shots on goal, shots per game, possession and defending are all improving," Cunningham said. "We just need that little bit extra to finish chances to put teams away. We will learn from this, but the guys should feel good overall, because we are getting close and better as the season progresses. Now, we just need to push it over the top to finish games."

A three-match road trip for the Knights begins on Wednesday with a trip to Temple at 3 p.m. before heading to Memphis on Oct. 11 for an 8 p.m. tilt.

UCF presented by Napleton's Volkswagen returns home on Oct. 18 with a 7 p.m. match against UConn. For more information on how to purchase tickets click here or call 407-UCF-1000.

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