ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Coming up at Orlando Speed World Dragway:
* Today (Wednesday)-thru-Sunday _ “World Street Nationals XXXI” _ Wednesday: Testing, 3 p.m.-to-10 p.m.; Thursday: Gates open at 9 a.m.; Testing, 11 a.m.-to-4 p.m.; Round 1 Qualifying, 6 p.m.; Friday: Gates open at 8 a.m.; Round 2 Qualifying, 11 a.m.; Round 3 Qualifying, 5 p.m.; Saturday: Gates open at 8 a.m.; Round 4 Qualifying, 11 a.m.; Round 5 Qualifying, 5 p.m.; Sunday: Gates open at 8 a.m. Tickets: 4-Day entry, $90; 3-Day entry, $90; 2-Day entry, $55; 1-Day entry, $30. Kids 10-and-Under are free.
The Dragway Information Hotline is at (407) 568-5522 and the website is at _ www.raceosw.com/dragway/.
SpeedWorld is located 17 miles east of Orlando in Bithlo at 19164 East Colonial Drive, between Orlando and Titusville on Highway 50 at the 520 Cocoa Cutoff.
SANFORD ADULT SOFTBALL
Here is this week’s schedule in the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department Adult Softball Fall Season.
The Semi-Co-Ed/Fun League on Wednesday has Fusion challenging The West End Trading Company at 6:30 p.m.; Fed Up taking on Throwbacks at 7:30 p.m.; Badgers and Wet Spot facing Fed Up at 8:30 p.m. Pat’s Liquor has the week off.
Everyone is invited to watch the games for free at Pinehurst Park on West 24th Street.
For more information contact Dominic Pascuzzo, City of Sanford Recreation Supervisor, at the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120, extension 5004; Fax _ 407-688-5121; facebook.com/SanfordFLCityGovt; instagram.com/cityofsanfordfl; visit the city website _ www.sanfordfl.gov _ or email: [email protected].
STETSON WOMEN
The Stetson women's basketball team dropped its 2024-25 season opener on Monday afternoon, falling 78-53 to the Miami Hurricanes on the road.
Three Hatters scored in double figures, led by newcomer Cameron Thomas with 11 points. Returning forward Quentarra Mitchell added 10 points and four steals, while Tiasia McMillan also contributed 10 points and two steals.
Stetson forced 19 Miami turnovers, converting them into seven points, with Quentarra Mitchell leading the defensive effort with a game-high four steals.
Up Next:
Stetson will host Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in their home opener, kicking off a Double Hatter event with the men's team.
UCF WOMEN
The UCF women’s basketball team opened its regular season by hosting Iona on Tuesday and will welcome Marquette to Addition Financial Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.
UCF VOLLEYBALL
The UCF volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23 and 25-13) loss to Texas Tech Saturday afternoon in the United Supermarkets Arena.
The Knights (8-11, 1-9 Big 12) and Red Raiders (12-11, 4-7) tallied 48 digs. At the same time, Texas Tech led the match with 49 kills and 10 blocks.
Avah Armour led the Knights with 12 kills and added nine digs. Alexia Kuehl tallied nine kills, hitting a .500 clip. On the defensive side, Kaitlin Grimes led with 10 digs and Sasha Cohen recorded four blocks.
Up Next:
The Knights continue their Texas road swing with a trip to TCU (7:30 p.m) on Thursday followed by Baylor (2 p.m.) on Saturday.
STETSON MEN
The reigning ASUN Champions Stetson Hatters men earned their first victory of the season, 94-75, over New College of Florida on Monday. Five different players scored double digits for the Hatters in the victory.
Tristan Gross led the team in scoring with 18 points followed by Jamie Phillips Jr with 17. The other players in double digits were Josh Massey with 14, Jordan Wood with 11 and Stefano Alesso with 11. Eleven different players also recorded a rebound as Alesso and Phillips Jr tied for the team lead with seven. Alesso, Daniel Macgregor, and Phillips Jr made their first collegiate appearances, and all scored their first collegiate points.
Up Next:
Stetson will now host Omaha on Thursday at 8 p.m. That game will be the second game of the Double Hatter as Women's Basketball will face off against Fort Lauderdale at 5:30 p.m.
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
This weekend is the 59th Annual Florida Governor's Cup 200!
Friday is open practice.
Saturday is Prelude to the Cup with the Hoosier Pro Late Model 100, J&C Gradall Modified 75, Florida Mod Mini Challenge 50 & the Ashley Homes JAX Trucks 35. Gates open at 1 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday is the 59th Annual Florida Governor's Cup 200 Sunbelt Series David Rogers Super Late Model 200 & Sportsman 25. Gates open at 11 a.m. with racing at 2 p.m.
The track is located at the corner of SR. 44 and CR 415, between New Smyrna, DeLand and Daytona.
For information on New Smyrna Speedway, visit _ www.newsmyrnaspeedwayusa.com _ or call the track office at 386-427-4129.
ORLANDO PRIDE
The Orlando Pride (18-2-6, 60 points) finished a historic 2024 regular season with a 3-2 win over Seattle Reign FC (6-15-5, 23 points) on Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride set NWSL records for most wins in a single season (18) and points in a single season (60), both records previously held by the 2018 North Carolina Courage.
With the win, the Pride also finish the 2024 home season without a loss, going 10-0-3 from the confines of Inter&Co Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
* 9’ - Ally Watt (Summer Yates) – ORL 1, SEA 0 _ The Pride took the early 1-0 lead just nine minutes into the match. Midfielder Summer Yates navigated her way through the Seattle defense near midfield before sending a long lead pass behind the back line. Forward Ally Watt caught up with the pass, leaving her one-on-one with the goalkeeper before finishing off the play for her third goal of the season.
* 10’ - Jordyn Huitema (Tziarra King) – ORL 1, SEA 1 _ The visitors responded quickly with Tziarra King running down the left flank and sending a ball into the box. Jordyn Huitema was able to get her foot on the volley and sneak the ball past Anna Moorhouse to level the match.
* 26’ - Kerry Abello – ORL 2, SEA 1 _ The Pride regained the lead midway through the first half. Watt once again led the way down the right wing for Orlando before crossing the ball into the box. After multiple deflections off Seattle defenders, the ball landed in front of Kerry Abello who was able to get a toe to the ball and sneak it past the goalkeeper.
* 57’ - Marta – ORL 3, SEA 1 _ Orlando added to its lead on a long run from Marta. Defender Emily Sams fed Marta near midfield and the Brazilian dribbled forward through the Reign defense into the box, used a stepover and drilled a shot into the back of the net.
* 85’ - Maddie Mercado (Veronica Latsko) – ORL 3, SEA 2 _ The Reign got one back on a header from second-half substitute Maddie Mercado. After a throw in, Veronica Latsko sent a cross into the Orlando box towards Mercado, who headed in a shot past Moorhouse to cut the lead to 3-2.
Next Match:
The No. 1 Orlando Pride’s first-ever home playoff match will be Friday against the No. 8 Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. The match, presented by Orlando Health, will air on Prime Video with kickoff set for 8 p.m.
For more information on Orlando Pride, visit Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
SANFORD RECREATION SPORTS
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department Fall Leagues will be in action with The Jeff Triplett Community Center @ Tim Raines Sports Complex hosting flag football and soccer on Saturday.
* The Youth Flag Football Fall League _ 5-to-8 year olds: Orlando City Foundation Vikings vs. Hollerbach’s Panthers, 9 a.m.; Waggin' & Braggin' Ravens vs. The Barstool Store Bengals, 9 a.m.; Ladies 327 Eagles vs. Sanford Herald Jaguars, 10 a.m.; 9-to-11 year olds: Playoffs _ CPH Dolphins vs. Tony Russi Ins. Bucs, 10 a.m.; Texas Roadhouse Jaguars vs. Police Athletic League Commanders, 11 a.m.; Steak n' Shake Raiders vs. Alaskan Ice Eagles, 11 a.m. 12-14 year olds: Playoffs _ Thermotane Propane Chiefs vs. Waggin’ & Braggin' Dolphins, noon; Card My Yard Bucs vs. The Learning Movement Bears, noon.
* The Youth Soccer League _ 4-to-6 year olds: Young Strikers vs. The Thunderbolts, 9 a.m.; Blue Raspberries vs. Lions, 9 a.m.; Warriors vs. Red Tigers, 10 a.m.; Cheetah’s vs. Wolves, 10 a.m.; The Green Dragons vs. Shark Ice Giants, 11 a.m.; 7-to-8 year olds: Flamingo’s vs. Black Panthers, 11 a.m.; Warriors vs. Slick Sliders, noon; Lions vs. The Soccer Stars, noon; Stingrays vs. Lightning, 1 p.m.; 9-to-10 year olds: Tropical Thunder vs. Knights, 1 p.m.; Tigers vs. Lightning Bolts, 2 p.m.; Jaguars vs. Night Wolves, 2 p.m.
LMSA
* Saturday, November 9 _ LMSA Members Club Race. Race #8 of the 2024 Members Club Race Series, sponsored by Sanford Brewing for the Hayden Trophy. Skippers meeting at noon.
* Sunday, November 24 _ Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race. The start window is 1:25 p.m.
* Thursday, November 28 _ The monthly LMSA Membership Meeting will be held from 7 p.m.-to-8 p.m. at the LMSA Club House (531 North Palmetto Avenue).
For more information, visit _ www.flalmsa.org _ or call (321) 578-8364.
STETSON VOLLEYBALL
The Stetson volleyball team (5-19, 2-11) split a pair of sweeps on the road, dropping a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19 and 25-23) decision to Queens University on Friday before sweeping past the University of West Georgia, 3-0 (25-10, 25-22 and 25-18), on Sunday.
Doing the damage against Queens were Jenna Simmons with her sixth double-double on the season with 12 digs and a team leading 13 kills, Haruka Sugimoto with 19 digs, Elif Yasar with 11 digs and Anabelle Standish with 10 digs. Simmons, Kayla Balfour and Ayala Halfon each finished tied for the team lead with three total blocks.
Against UWG, Standish led the team with 13 kills followed by Zuzanna Rut and Leilani Vitale with six. Yasar tallied 27 assists. Defensively, Vitale led the team with 15 digs followed by Sugimoto with 13. At the net, Balfour led the team with three total blocks followed by Standish with 2.5 total blocks.
Up Next:
The Hatters return home to take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at 6 p.m.
ORLANDO CITY
No. 4 Orlando City SC dropped a penalty kick decision on Friday night to No. 5 Charlotte FC in the second game of Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, the two sides went immediately to the penalty shootout after regulation, with the home side ultimately winning 3-1 on penalties.
Next Match:
Orlando City will return to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Charlotte FC. The match will be the deciding Game Three of the best-of-three Round One.
For more information on Orlando City SC, visit OrlandoCitySC.com or follow on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
UCF MEN’S SOCCER
One of the most prolific goal-scorers in UCF men’s soccer’s program history, Lucca Dourado, left one final impression in what could represent his last match on his home pitch.
On the heels of an emotional pregame ceremony that honored six UCF seniors, including Dourado, Anderson Rosa, Ousmane Ba, Emmanuel Bam, Jonas Fritschi, and student manager Carson Boyko, the veteran striker produced one of the best games of his five-year career, recording his first career hat trick to lead the Black and Gold to a 4-0 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks Friday evening.
Dourado’s hat trick, in addition to representing the first of his career and the first for UCF since Alessandro Campoy’s display against FGCU Sept. 11, 2021, also lifted the forward beyond the 40 career goals plateau.
He became the fifth in program history to score at least 40 goals as a Knight, and with 42 in his five-year career ranks fifth on the UCF all-time career goals scored list behind Heikki Ritvanen (88, 1996-99), Randy DeShield (56, 1976-79), Ari Nurmi (47, 1996-99) and Cal Jennings (46, 2016-19).
He also pushed his career point total to an even 90 entering the team’s regular-season finale, good for sixth most in program history behind Ritvanen (188), DeShield (126), Nurmi (122), Jennings (107) and Rony Francois (101, 1980-83).
Dourado joined an exclusive club within the Sun Belt with his accomplishment as well, joining Kentucky’s Logan Dorsey, Georgia Southern’s Ryan Holmes and West Virginia’s Sergio Ors Navarro as the fourth player in the league to score three goals in a single game this season.
Rosa accounted for the remaining score, an effort that boosted the Knights back above .500 on the season and back to even in Sun Belt Conference play hiding into their final regular season contest on Tuesday at Coastal Carolina and sit in a four-way tie for third place in the Sun Belt table with James Madison, South Carolina and Kentucky, trailing only No. 7 West Virginia (18 points) and No. 6 Marshall (16 points) following Friday’s action.
Next Up:
The top 8 teams will advance to the Quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament on Sunday. Times and locations to be announced.
