ORLANDO — Deshorn Brown scored his first hat trick of the season against Memphis to help UCF win the game 4-3 in double overtime with the winning goal coming from Omar Vallejo in 100th minute of the match.
The Knights were down 3-1 in the second half, but sparked a comeback to win it 4-3 in double overtime.
“It was a great first hat trick for the season,” Deshorn Brown said. “I want to win. I swear to you probably if we didn’t win this game, probably have to regroup for next year.”
With the win, it ensure the Knights their first overtime win this season.
With the win, it ensure the Knights their first overtime win this season.
In the first half, the Knights were the team with most the possession as they had 5 shots to 1 shot for the Tigers.
It seemed early on that UCF wanted to speed the tempo of the game, while Memphis seemed content on putting pressure on the Knights by playing very defensive and going into halftime tied at zero.
“To have our backs against the wall like that and come back and says something to me about the group we have and we are not dead yet,” said UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham.
In the second half, the scoring opened up early in the 56th minute when Matthew Gaskins crossed an airborne pass to Deshorn Brown as he broke away from the defense and let the ball bounce once and then he chipped the ball over the keeper as he was coming out to get the ball.
In the second half, the scoring opened up early in the 56th minute when Matthew Gaskins crossed an airborne pass to Deshorn Brown as he broke away from the defense and let the ball bounce once and then he chipped the ball over the keeper as he was coming out to get the ball.
A minute later Memphis being down 1-0 Jordan Johnson dribbled down the rights side of the field, only to get passed the defender and into the box and fired a shot that beats the keeper on the right side of the goal to tie the game.
Memphis took the lead in the 67th minute when Mark Sherrod passed to Liam Collins who then drives toward the middle of the field and takes a shot that flies over the outstretch reaches of keeper Sebastian Evers for a goal.
Memphis takes advantage of other opportunity in the 79th minute when Patrick Toh passes to Liam Collins who returns the favor to Mark Sherrod who assisted him on his goal. Collins crosses the ball into the box and Sherrod heads it in to make the Tigers lead the Knights 3-1.
In the 82th minute, Omar Vallejo took the free kick and found Deshorn Brown who headed the cross in for a goal.
“ It was incredible, I think we showed a lot of heart I mean we dug ourselves a hole little bit down 3-1 with 10 minutes to go,” said Vallejo. “I thought we showed a lot of heart and we represented the school the right way and show UCF soccer I all about.”
Deshorn Brown finished his hat trick, which tied the game in the 84th minute.
In the second overtime, UCF had most of possession and took advantage of that in the 100th minute when Deshorn Brown took a shot and Omar Vallejo was there for the rebound and scored the game winning goal.
The UCF Knights host their final home when UAB come to visit on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
