Josue Monge named First Team, Salvatore Mazzaferro Second Team; Oscar Resano and Brian Schaefer All-Rookie selections.
IRVING, Texas (April 14, 2021) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team is well represented on The American postseason All-Conference Team with four players earning honors, the league announced on Wednesday. Highlighting the Bulls’ honorees is first-team selection Josue Monge (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Sal Mazzaferro (Toronto, Canada) who was tabbed a second-team selection. Also, Oscar Resano (Mexico City, Mexico) and Brian Schaefer (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
Monge, a senior midfielder, led the Bulls in scoring with seven points on two goals and a team-high three assists in just under 900 minutes played on the year. His three assists finished tied for third in the conference through the end of the postseason.
Monge netted his first goal of the season in USF’s first match of the year, against Temple on Feb. 6, and then logged his lone game-winner of the season in a 3-1 victory at Memphis on March 13. He also recorded a two-assist match at Temple on Feb. 27 in a 2-1 victory.
For the second straight season, Mazzaferro, a sophomore defender, was one of the key components of the Bulls’ defense while also being a threat on the offensive end of the pitch. On the back-line, Mazzaferro brought an aggressive defensive style of play, winning challenges on the ground and in the air. He showed great passing range and distribution from the back, initiating attacks and breaking the opposition’s pressure.
Offensively, Mazzaferro recorded three points on one goal and an assist, both the first of his career. He posted his first career helper in a 2-1 win over Tulsa on March 6, and then two matches later, at SMU on March 20, he tallied his first career goal.
Also, Mazzaferro didn’t miss one second on the pitch this season, logging 927 minutes of match time.
A freshman forward, Resano ended the season second on the team in points with five on two goals and one assist. It didn’t take Resano long to make his way onto the score sheet with a helper in the season-opener against Temple on Feb. 6. He followed up his first point with his first career goal on Feb. 20, in a 2-1 win at UCF, and then at Memphis on March 13, while also recording a career-high three shots against the Tigers.
Schaefer, a freshman midfielder, recorded four points on the year, good enough for fourth on the team, on two goals. He posted his first career goal – also a game-winner – in a 2-1 win over No. 22 Tulsa on March 6. Then, two weeks later against No. 17 SMU, he found the back of the goal again for the Bulls’ first goal of the contest.
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.
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