The Bulls tied a school record for most goals scored in an NCAA Tournament match.
TAMPA (Nov. 17, 2022) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team put forth a dominating performance on Thursday night at Corbett Stadium against Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, handing the Pride a 4-2 loss to advance to the tournament’s second round on Sunday to face No. 1 overall seed Kentucky (14-0-5). Kickoff in Lexington at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex is slated for 6 p.m. (ESPN+).
The Bulls improve to 9-6-4 on the year while Hofstra, the two-time defending Colonial Athletic Conference champions, ends the year 14-4-3.
The win for the Green and Gold is the first in the NCAA Tournament since 2011 when it defeated Central Florida in the Round of 32, 2-1 in overtime. It is also the first time that South Florida has moved to the second round since 2012 when it tied Florida Gulf Coast and advanced on penalty kicks, 5-3.
In addition, South Florida’s four goals tie a school record for most goals scored in an NCAA Tournament match, equaling the four scored in a 4-4 draw against Virginia in 2005. The Cavaliers advanced on PKs, 7-6.
Despite the Pride getting the scoring started quickly in the 5’ on a goal by Eliot Goldthorp, the first of his two on the evening, the Bulls found their rhythm and turned up the pressure on Hofstra to take control of the match. Ajmeer Spengler got the equalizer in the 28’ on a laser to the top left corner, beating 6-foot-7 goalkeeper Wessel Speel. Spengler then looked for more just seven minutes later but banged his offering off the near post.
South Florida eventually broke through again with the go-ahead goal just seconds before the end of the first half. Gabrielle Privitera sent a corner kick into the box that found Brian Schaefer, whose header fell to the ground where Oscar Resano took possession and put the eventual game-winner past Speel for the lead with 11 ticks left in the half.
The Bulls came out and left no doubt who had the upper hand, netting two goals in the first 16 minutes of the second stanza to put the match out of reach.
Marcus Victorio forced and took advantage of the Hofstra turnover and sent a bender from 22 yards out to the far post in the 54’, and Shion Soga took a pass from Privitera and buried home his offering in 61’ to put the match away.
Goldthorp cut the South Florida lead in half with his second goal of the night in the 77’ but the Pride was unable to get any closer.
Jackson Weyman had four saves for the Bulls which included a point-blank punch save just before Victorio’s goal early in the second half.
Scoring Summary
HU – Eliot Goldthorp (Unassisted; 5:05)
USF – Ajmeer Spengler (Unassisted; 28:10)
USF – Oscar Resano (Brian Schaefer; 44:49)
USF – Marcus Victorio (Unassisted; 53:39)
USF – Shion Soga (Gabrielle Privitera; 60:56)
HU – Eliot Goldthorp (Unassisted; 77:27)
1 2 F
USF 2 2 4
HU 1 1 2
Shots: USF 16, Hofstra 9
Shots on Goal: USF 7, Hofstra 6
Saves: USF 4, Hofstra 3
Corner Kicks: USF 2, Hofstra 4
Fouls: USF 10, Hofstra 10
Notable
- South Florida’s win over Hofstra improves the Bulls’ record to 12-18-6 in the NCAA Tournament.
- Thursday’s match against Hofstra was the first meeting between the two schools.
- South Florida’s two top scorers, Oscar Resano and Ajmeer Spengler, continue to go point for point as the tandem scored a goal apiece again on Thursday … Resano, the teams’ top goal scorer has 12 points (6g) while Spengler matches him on five goals and two assists.
- Marcus Victorio’s goal was his second of the year (2g, 3a) and Shion Soga’s was his second of the season (2g, 3a).
- In addition to Jackson Weyman, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Nicolas Scargle and Brian Schaefer all played 90 minutes.
Up Next
The Bulls will now travel to Lexington, Ky. to face the No. 1 overall seed Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday at 6 p.m.
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 29 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 20 years, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances during that period.
The University of South Florida men’s soccer team was well represented on the AAC postseason All-Conference Team in 2021 with four players earning honors. Highlighting the Bulls’ honorees was the American Athletic Conference Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, Kazuna Takase, along with first-team selection Shion Soga. In addition, Takase was also selected to the All-Conference Second Team along with Salvatore Mazzaferro, and Josh Gomina was named to the AAC All-Rookie Team.
–#GoBulls –
