<B>Sept. 19, 2015</B>
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<b>ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -</b> With the UCF men's soccer team donning fauxback Citronaut uniforms, the Knights scored twice and finished the match on Friday with a 2-1 win over Grand Canyon.
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"I told the guys beforehand let's go out and be the victor, not the victim like we have been the past three games," head coach <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bryan_cunningham_207267.html">Bryan Cunningham</A> said. "We settled in after the first 2-3 minutes and started to hit our mark a bit. It was great to get the goal in the first half and add to the lead early in the second half."
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Freshman <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/jakov_basic_979308.html">Jakov Basic</A> and sophomore <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/matias_pyysalo_913125.html">Matias Pyysalo</A> recorded the goals for the Citronauts at the UCF Soccer Complex.
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<b>Related:</b> <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ucf/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/2015-16/box_score/stats_20150919aaa.pdf" target="_blank">PDF Stats</a> | <a href="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2015-2016/ucf05.html">HTML Stats</a>  | <a href="http://ucfknights.co/1NBNG29">SoundCloud -- Cunningham, Basic, Hicks</a>
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<B>SCORING FIRST</B><br>
- Basic put the Citronauts up 1-0 in the 35th minute with his first-career goal.<br>
- The Zagreb, Croatia, native took a free kick from 30 yards out, which went off the goalkeeper's hand and into the net.<br>
- Basic called told midfielder Pyysalo, who takes a majority of the Citronauts' free kicks, that he had a good feeling about the distance.<br>
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<i>"The first goal was an exciting moment for me," Basic sad. "I am a freshman and it was nice to be rewarded for all the hard work that I have put into the season. "</i>
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<b>BUILDING THE LEAD</b><br>
- With the ball on the right wing during the 50th minute, senior forward <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/hadji_barry_911822.html">Hadji Barry</A> sent a low cross across the goal.<br>
- A Grand Canyon defender blocked the cross and the ball stopped just inside the 18-yard box, where Pyysalo blew a one-touch shot past the goalkeeper.<br>
- Pyysalo paces the squad with three goals and three assists on the season.<br>
- The Citronauts registered a 10-9 advantage in shots and 7-1 lead in corner kick opportunities.<br>
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<i>"On the second goal, my eyes lit up really big, because I thought I was going to be able to hit it," Hicks said. "My friend Matias [Pyysalo] called me off and when I heard his voice I knew he would get the job done."</i>
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<b>MAN OF THE MATCH</b><br>
- Sophomore <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/phil_hicks_851974.html">Phil Hicks</A> played forward, midfield and defense for the Citronauts against the Lopes.<br>
- He finished with one shot, but impacted the match through his hard work and determination.<br>
- The New Orleans, La., native is one of a number of versatile players that coach Cunningham has on the roster.<br>
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<i>"Phil has had an awesome attitude since he started training in the summer, which has continued through today," Cunningham said. "He came in and gave us a spark off the bench by being tough defensively and fighting off their center backs."</i>
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<b>FINISHING THE MATCH</b><br>
- Each of the last two games, the Knights had an opportunity for a positive result with a 1-0 lead and 0-0 tie entering the 80th minute, but faltered in both matches.<br>
- The Knights continued pressing after GCU scored its lone goal in the 69th minute.<br>
- Junior <A HREF="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/zach_biggs_807299.html">Zach Biggs</A> made a game-saving stop, which was his third of the game, in 75th minute.<br>
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<i>"After Grand Canyon had a little momentum following the goal, it gave them a little boost," Cunningham said. "We matured a bit and really had some chances to get that third goal. In the last 10 minutes, we killed the game quite nicely."</i>
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<B>CITRONAUT NIGHT</b><Br>
-The Citronauts wore special edition fauxback uniforms during the contest.<br>
-The kits for the men's and women's teams will be available to purchase on Tuesday to the public for $80.<br>
-Fans received a special-edition Citronaut scarf for attending the soccer doubleheader.<br>
-The Citronaut was the first unofficial mascot of FTU and appeared on the school's handbook in 1968-69. FTU become UCF back in 1980.<br>
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<b>NEXT UP</b><br>
- UCF is back in action on Wednesday with a road trip to play Jacksonville at 8 p.m.<br>
- American Athletic Conference play begins on Sept. 26 with an 8:30 p.m. start at Memphis.<br>
- The Knights return to the UCF Soccer Complex on Sept. 29 against FIU at 7 p.m.<br>

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