DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson men's soccer closes out its season-long five-match homestand Tuesday night with a Central Florida matchup against UCF at the Athletic Training Center.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the match streaming live on ESPN+.
Stetson enters Tuesday at 2-5-1 after winning two of its last three matches, while UCF makes the short trip to DeLand at 4-2-1. The matchup pairs a Hatter side that has outshot six consecutive opponents against a Knights defense that has posted five clean sheets through seven matches.
UCF AT STETSON
TUESDAY, SEPT. 22 • 7 P.M.
ATHLETIC TRAINING CENTER • DeLAND, FLORIDA
WATCH: ESPN+ • LIVE STATS: GoHatters.com
STETSON: 2-5-1 • UCF: 4-2-1
Central Florida Comes to DeLand
Tuesday night brings a familiar in-state opponent to the Athletic Training Center as Stetson and UCF meet in DeLand for the first time since 2018.
The Hatters enter the matchup having won two of their last three matches. Stetson broke through with a 2-0 shutout of West Florida before scoring a season-high four goals in a 4-1 victory over Presbyterian.
The two-match winning streak ended Saturday against Queens, but the Hatters again controlled much of the action in a narrow 1-0 setback. Stetson outshot the Royals 12-5, held Queens to just one shot on goal and generated eight corner kicks.
The Hatters nearly found the equalizer in the closing seconds. Andre Casas generated a pair of attempts in the final minute before Zsombor Pall had a shot blocked by a Queens defender as time expired.
Pressure Continues to Build
Stetson has consistently created opportunities regardless of the final result.
The Hatters have outshot each of their last six opponents, a stretch that began with a 15-12 advantage at Coastal Carolina. Stetson followed with advantages against Bellarmine (12-6), Georgia Southern (12-8), West Florida (15-6), Presbyterian (16-8) and Queens (12-5).
For the season, Stetson owns a 98-68 advantage in shots and is averaging 12.3 attempts per match while allowing just 8.5. The Hatters have also generated 42 corner kicks compared to 30 for their opponents.
Stetson's pressure has increased as matches progress, with 57 of its 98 shots coming after halftime. The Hatters have also generated 23 second-half corner kicks.
Creating Chances
6 STRAIGHT MATCHES OUTSHOOTING OPPONENTS
98-68 SHOT ADVANTAGE • 42-30 CORNER ADVANTAGE
Sharing the Attack
Six different Hatters have accounted for Stetson's eight goals this season.
Afonso Conde and William Mills lead the way with two goals and four points apiece. Conde has scored in two of Stetson's last three matches, providing the game winner against both West Florida and Presbyterian.
Justin Blanco, Maurice Hauser, Matthew Perez and Mauricio Restrepo have also found the back of the net. Blanco and Hauser each scored in the 4-1 victory over Presbyterian, with Blanco recording the first goal of his collegiate career.
The balanced production extends beyond the goal scorers. Eight different Hatters have recorded at least one assist this season.
Sharing the Attack
8 GOALS | 6 DIFFERENT SCORERS
Perez Pushing Forward
Freshman Matthew Perez has emerged as one of Stetson's most active players in the attacking third.
Perez leads the Hatters with 15 shots and six shots on goal despite appearing in only six of the team's eight matches.
The Boca Raton native recorded the first goal and assist of his collegiate career in Stetson's 2-0 victory over West Florida. He followed with three shots against Presbyterian before leading the Hatters with four attempts and two shots on goal Saturday against Queens.
Perez has attempted 10 shots over his last three appearances and enters Tuesday with three points on the season.
Conde Finding His Form
Afonso Conde has helped spark Stetson's recent turnaround.
The veteran midfielder scored the game winner against West Florida before finding the net again three days later against Presbyterian, giving him goals in consecutive matches.
Conde enters Tuesday tied with Mills for the team lead with two goals and four points. Both of his goals have stood as game winners.
The Lisbon, Portugal native has put five of his nine shots on target this season and now owns 11 career goals.
Scouting UCF
UCF enters Tuesday at 4-2-1 after opening Sun Belt play Friday night with a narrow 1-0 loss at James Madison. The Knights have built their early success around one of the nation's stingiest defenses, surrendering just five goals through seven matches while recording five clean sheets. UCF has allowed one goal or fewer in six contests, with Clemson accounting for four of the five goals scored against the Knights this season.
UCF opened the year with a 1-0 victory over Boston University before playing Florida Atlantic to a scoreless draw. The Knights followed with a 2-0 win over South Florida, suffered a 4-1 setback against Clemson and then responded with consecutive shutout victories over Florida Polytechnic and VCU. Friday's conference opener remained scoreless until James Madison broke through in the 78th minute, though UCF finished with a 15-10 advantage in shots and put six attempts on goal.
Through seven matches, the Knights have outscored their opponents 12-5 while holding advantages of 95-71 in shots and 41-24 in corner kicks.
UCF By The Numbers
4-2-1 | 5 SHUTOUTS | 5 GOALS ALLOWED
95 SHOTS • 45 SHOTS ON GOAL • 41 CORNERS
Junior goalkeeper Matisse Hébert has played every minute in goal and has been at the center of UCF's defensive start. Hébert has allowed five goals across 630 minutes, posting a 0.71 goals-against average and a .783 save percentage while recording five shutouts. He has been particularly strong in UCF's last two road matches, making eight saves in a 2-0 victory at VCU before stopping five of James Madison's six shots on goal Friday night.
Offensively, Drew Hansen leads the Knights with four goals and nine points through seven matches. He has put seven of his 11 attempts on goal and has scored two game winners. Kenn Muendo and Alex Partera have each added two goals and two assists for six points, while Takahiro Fujita has scored twice. Together, the quartet has accounted for 10 of UCF's 12 goals.
Tuesday also marks UCF's fourth and final matchup against an in-state opponent during the regular season. The Knights are unbeaten in their first three, playing Florida Atlantic to a scoreless draw before earning shutout victories over South Florida and Florida Polytechnic. UCF has outscored those three opponents 8-0 and has yet to concede a goal against a Florida opponent this season. The Knights are 23-8-4 against Florida-based programs during head coach Scott Calabrese's tenure.
Strength Against Strength
One of Tuesday night's biggest storylines will come when Stetson's ability to generate chances meets a UCF defense that has been difficult to break down.
UCF enters Tuesday sharing the national Division I lead with a .714 shutout percentage and five total shutouts. The Knights have allowed one goal or fewer in six of their seven matches.
Stetson, meanwhile, has generated at least 12 shots in each of its last six matches and has outshot every opponent during that span.
Strength Against Strength
STETSON: 6 STRAIGHT WITH MORE SHOTS
UCF: 5 SHUTOUTS IN 7 MATCHES
Stetson averages 12.3 shots per match • UCF owns a 0.71 goals-against average
Series History
Tuesday renews an in-state series between the Hatters and Knights for the first time in three years and brings UCF to DeLand for the first time since 2018.
Stetson trails the series 2-9-2 dating back to the first meeting in 2006 while the Hatters hold a 1-2-1 record against UCF at home.
UCF has won each of the last four meetings, including a 2-1 decision in Orlando when the programs last met on Aug. 27, 2023. Stetson's last victory in the series came at home on Oct. 18, 2016, when the Hatters earned a 2-1 overtime win.
The Series
UCF LEADS 9-2-2 | FIRST MEETING SINCE 2023
Stetson's last series win came in DeLand in 2016 • First meeting in DeLand since 2018
Closing the Homestand
Tuesday marks the fifth and final match of Stetson's homestand.
The Hatters are 2-2 during the stretch, defeating West Florida and Presbyterian while dropping a pair of 1-0 decisions to Georgia Southern and Queens.
Stetson has outscored its opponents 6-3 and holds a 55-27 advantage in shots through the first four matches of the homestand.
Following Tuesday's matchup, Stetson returns to the road Saturday, Sept. 26, for an ASUN contest at North Florida.
Five Things to Know
1. SIX STRAIGHT WITH MORE SHOTS
Stetson has outshot each of its last six opponents and owns a 98-68 advantage in shots for the season.
2. CENTRAL FLORIDA RIVALS
Tuesday is the first meeting between Stetson and UCF since 2023 and the first matchup in DeLand since 2018.
3. SIX DIFFERENT SCORERS
Six Hatters have accounted for Stetson's eight goals, led by
Afonso Conde and
William Mills with two apiece.
4. FIVE CLEAN SHEETS
UCF has shut out five of its seven opponents and has surrendered just five goals through 630 minutes.
5. ONE MORE AT HOME
Tuesday closes Stetson's five-match homestand before the Hatters return to ASUN play Saturday at North Florida.
How to Follow
Tuesday night's match will kick off at 7 p.m. from the Athletic Training Center in DeLand. The match will stream live on ESPN+, with live statistics available through the men's soccer schedule page at GoHatters.com.
Admission to Stetson men's soccer home matches is free.
For the latest news and updates on Stetson men's soccer, visit GoHatters.com and follow @StetsonMSoc and @StetsonHatters on social media for additional content throughout the 2026 season.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
