The Bulls close out their regular-season home slate on April 2 when Memphis visits Corbett Stadium.
TAMPA (March 27, 2021) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team came into its War on I-4 match against rival UCF looking for the regular-season sweep against the Knights, however, despite playing into the 101st-minute, the Bulls fell in a heartbreaking 1-0 double-overtime battle on Saturday night at Corbett Stadium.
The Bulls drop to 4-4 on the year, while UCF improves to 5-3.
Yoni Sorokin was credited with the game-winner for the Knights 95 seconds into the second overtime period, from what originated off a UCF set piece.
The Bulls had to play a man down after Segun Afolabi – who had not had a foul called on him all evening – was given a red card for sliding in an attempt to play the ball on a break on USFs offensive end of the pitch and made contact with the UCF defender. The Green and Gold had several chances but ultimately weren’t able to convert and find the back of the net.
Arguably two of the Bulls’ best opportunities to get on the board came first in the 49th minute when Shion Soga took a heal pass from Josue Monge from five yards out and looked to go to the top left corner with a big blast. The shot forced UCF keeper Yannik Oetti to make a diving save that resulted in a USFs lone corner kick of the night.
Then, in the 87th-minute of play, Monge once again served up a perfect pass into the box that found the head of Oscar Resano who scraped the top of the cross-bar, just over the leaping reach of Oetti.
Despite trailing the Knights in shots, slightly on the night, 14-12, USF was the aggressor in the extra sessions holding a 5-2 shots advantage on UCF, including two good looks by Trey Jackson in the first three-plus minute of the first overtime. The chances were his only two shots of the match.
The Bulls’ netminder, Kazuna Takase, had another sensational night between the posts, making seven saves, the second-most of his career, including several highlight-reel saves to keep the match scoreless in the second half of regulation and the first overtime.
Monge led USF with a team-high three shots and a match-best two shots on goal in the loss.
Scoring Summary
UCF – Yoni Sorokin (Unassisted; 101:35)
1 2 OT O2 F
USF 0 0 0 0 0
UCF 0 0 0 1 1
Shots: USF 12, UCF 14
Shots on Goal: USF 5, UCF 8
Saves: USF 7, UCF 5
Corner Kicks: USF 1, UCF 7
Fouls: USF 8, UCF 13
Notable
- USFs loss to UCF drops its all-time record over the Knights to 23-8-3, and 14-5 in Tampa.
- Through Saturday’s game, and despite the setback, the Bulls have outscored the Knights, 67-39, in the all-time series.
Up Next
The Bulls will close out their regular season home slate on Friday, April 2, at 7 p.m. when they welcome Memphis to Corbett Stadium. USF will honor its senior class during a Senior Night ceremony prior to the game.
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 –
