TAMPA, Fla., November 5, 2023 – University of South Florida men’s soccer (6-9-1) fell short on the road in a 3-2 loss at Memphis (10-4-2) in the first-round of the American Athletic Conference championship.
Thirteen minutes into the matchup, Pedro Faife scored the first goal of the night. Faife was assisted by teammate Shion Soga.
Less the two minutes later, Memphis answered with a goal from Alberto Cruz. From then on it became an aggressive battle on the pitch. Six minutes before the break, Max Wilkins pulled the Bulls ahead with a header from a corner kick by Richard Thompson.
USF continued to hold the lead up until the 85 minute, when Memphis’ Jose Maria Ojeda tied the game for the second time. The Bulls held strong until the final minute, until Logan Longo found the net for the Tigers. Which ended the night in favor of the Tigers, 3-2.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
· Faife’s goal marked the second of his career.
· Wilkins’ goal was his first for the green and gold (15th career).
· Soga’s assist was his first of the season and ninth of his career.
· Thompson’s assist was his second of the year (17th of career).
· Memphis captured its seventh all-time victory against the Bulls, but USF still holds a 18-7-5 record against the Tigers across all parings.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase men’s soccer tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
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 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 30 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. Men’s Soccer has two Alumni in the USF Athletics Hall of Fame: Fergus Hopper and Dan Holcomb, with Jeff Attinella joining as part of the 2023 class.
The Bulls have reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times over the past 22 seasons.
– #GoBulls –
