The freshmen duo of Copper and Afolabi power the Bulls to victory with first career goals.
TAMPA (Feb. 27, 2021) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team picked up its second-straight win on Saturday night in Philadelphia with a 2-1 victory over Temple in their second matchup of the season.
The Bulls avenged a tough 3-2 loss to the Owls on Feb. 16 in the season-opener.
Temple (1-3, 1-3 AAC) got on the board first and struck in the 21st minute with Sean Karani going up the right flank and served a ball into Amir Cohen, who put it into the back of the net to make the score, 1-0.
The Bulls (2-2, 2-2 AAC) got the equalizer when Josue Monge found Jeffrey “JT” Copper to his left, and Copper converted on a left-footer to the top right corner of the goal in the 33rd minute.
Segun Afolabi got the game-winner when he headed a cross from Monge, beating the Owls’ goalkeeper in the 39th minute.
The goals for Copper and Afolabi, which came less than ten minutes from each other, were the first of their careers for the freshmen duo.
Monge recorded a career-high two assists.
Scoring Summary
TEM – Amir Cohen (Sean Karani; 21:47)
USF – Jeffrey Copper (Josue Monge; 33:14)
USF – Segun Afolabi (Josue Monge; 39:41)
1 2 F
USF 2 0 2
Temple 1 0 1
Shots: USF 6, Temple 8
Shots on Goal: USF 4, Temple 2
Saves: USF 1, Temple 2
Corner Kicks: USF 1, Temple 6
Fouls: USF 13, Temple 12
Notable
- Saturday’s game at Temple was the second of two-straight games that the Bulls will have played on the road … USF upset No. 14 UCF in Orlando last weekend in the first edition of the War on I-4.
- USF’s win over Temple improves its all-time record over the Owls to 7-3-1.
Up Next
Following Saturday’s game at Temple, USF will return home on March 6 to face Tulsa at Corbett Stadium at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).
About USF Men’s Soccer
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USF Men’s Soccer competed in the school’s first ever intercollegiate athletic contest on Sept. 25, 1965, beating Florida Southern 4-3. Since then, the oldest program on campus has built a winning tradition, claiming 14 conference championships and making 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 27 MLS draft picks. Notable alumni include two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, USA 1994 World Cup star Roy Wegerle, and 2013 MLS Cup winner Dom Dwyer.
The Bulls have advanced to the postseason in 18 of the past 19 years, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances during that period.
USF Soccer concluded the 2019 season with an 11-7-1 overall record, earning an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Four players earned AAC honors, highlighted by first team selections Avionne Flanagan and Javain Brown. Adrian Billhardt was tabbed a second team selection. In addition, Brown and Salvatore Mazzaferro were named to The AAC All-Rookie Team. Head coach Bob Butehorn returns to lead USF in his fourth season on the sidelines.
– #GoBulls –
