After a scoreless first half, UConn had a slight 3-1 edge in shots, but neither team registered a shot on goal.
"Our motto for the whole week has been hard work. It doesn’t matter if you mess up, but just going after the ball and watching out for the guy next to you." - Senior Javier Clavijo
In the 76th minute, Brian Jamba broke through for UCF with a rocket into the upper 90 from 30-yards out.
"We felt like we had to be more aggressive in all facets. We’ve been yelling at Jamba all season to shoot. We’ve seen his shooting ability in practice and tonight he came through for us." -Head Coach Bryan Cunningham
Matias Pyysalo created the opportunity with a textbook slide tackle that directly resulted in the opportunity for Jamba.
UConn found the equalizer in the 81st minute on a rebound following a shot from outside the box.
With 90 minutes complete, the score between the Knights and Huskies was tied, 1-1.
Senior Javier Clavijo rallied the Knights during the break.
"I told the guys we're at home. We have to go after them. We're not going to sit back and wait for anything to happen."
UCF needed less than three minutes in the first overtime to find the game-winner.
Sophomore Jonathan Dean played a long ball to Matias Pyysalo, who ran down the right wing with just the goalkeeper to beat.
"There was a different look in their eyes tonight, they looked like they really wanted to win tonight and Matias came through with a great finish." - Head coach Bryan Cunningham
"We work so hard every day in practice and when we get a special moment like today to bond and celebrate a win together it’s an incredible feeling." - Senior Javier Clavijo
"Javier really wanted this win tonight 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." - Head Coach Bryan Cunningham
UCF notched it first-ever victory in program history over UConn in the ninth meeting of the series.
The goal for Pyysalo was his ninth of the season and sixth-career, game-winning goal. The Helsinki, Finland, native is among the nation's leader in points with 23.
The Knights are back in action on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. match at FIU before returning to conference play on Saturday at Temple.
Full recap at UCFKnights.com
Credits:
Photos courtesy of Michelle Stojkov