Oct. 7, 2015

Final Stats

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Sophomore midfielder Walker Dawkins scored the equalizer for UCF in the 54th minute and tipped the momentum into UCF's favor in a 3-1 victory over Temple on Wednesday. Senior Hadji Barry netted the game-winning marker, while freshman forward Dre Deas scored his first collegiate goal.

"I am really pleased the way the players responded after the two tough games last week vs. FIU and SMU," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "We came out with a better attitude in the second half. The players put the petal to the metal and really went for it."

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TURNING POINT
- On the Knights' 10th shot of the contest, Dawkins found the game-tying goal for UCF in the 54th minute.
- A service from sophomore midfielder Matias Pyysalo off a free kick from 24-yards out was headed out by a defender toward Dawkins.
- The Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native gained possession and placed the ball in the upper 90 for his second marker of the season.

"I knew for sure after scoring the goal that we would win," Dawkins said. "We just needed one goal to change the momentum of the match."

CLEANING UP
- Barry put the Knights on top, 2-1, five minutes later in the 59th minute by scoring off his own rebound.
- Freshman Zackary Waitman streaked down the left wing and sent a cross that went off the leg of senior midfielder Mason Miller towards Barry.
- The Rochester, N.Y., native's first shot was stopped by Alex Cage, but Barry calmly made sure his second shot counted for his eighth goal of the season.

"I just wanted to get the ball and make a difference on the team," Deas said. "Coach had been telling us that we have to work hard to get wins. We did that and the whole team worked hard. It was the difference in the game tonight."

WANTING MORE
- With the lead, UCF continued pressuring Temple and fired off 20 shots in the match with six being on goal.
- Pyysalo finished with a career-high six shots, while Barry added five.
- Deas used a volley to get ball around a defender and found the back of the net in the 84th minute for the insurance goal.

"We have tried Dre at a bunch of different positions," Cunningham said. "I had a hunch at halftime that having someone quick and busy up top would give them a bit of trouble. He has been working hard and it is pleasing to see everything payoff for him tonight."

AT THE HALF
- Temple scored the opening marker in the eighth minute as Belal Mohamed connected on a cross from the right wing by Joonas Jokinen.
- The Knights controlled possession during the frame and totaled eight shots, including two on target.

NEXT UP
- The Saturday's contest against Tulsa has been set for 1 p.m. before the UCF football game vs. UConn at 3:45 p.m. Admission to the game is free.
- The Knights three-match homestand concludes on Oct. 13 against Stetson.