Final Stats (pdf)TAMPA, Fla. (Friday, Sept. 2) ? A 78th-minute goal by midfielder Bruno Barbosa resulted in an season-opening loss for the University of South Florida men's soccer team (0-1-0) as the Bulls fell, 1-0, to the FIU Golden Panthers (1-0-0) on Friday, Sept. 1 at the USF Soccer Stadium.
The season-opener for both teams proved to be a physical affair as a total of 28 fouls were committed and three yellow cards were handed out. FIU outshot USF 15-11 in the contest with 12 of its shots coming in the first half.
Early on in the contest, the Bulls had a number of scoring opportunities but couldn't capitalize on them. As the game progressed and the scored remained knotted at 0-0, FIU pushed forward more and more. USF was unable to produce consistent pressure on the FIU defense as the Golden Panthers' counterattack kept the Bulls pushed back into their third of the field. Without three starters
Hunter West, Simon Schoendorf and
Keeron Benito (all held out of the contest), USF looked to its newcomers to provide the needed spark. Freshmen
Jordan Seabrook,
Jason Devenish,
Yohance Marshall,
Joris Claessens as well as junior
Sammy Castellanos all saw their first action as members of USF, producing 8 of the 11 total shots on the night.
Tied, 0-0, late in the second half, FIU got on the board with a strike by Barbosa from the top of the USF area. With the Golden Panthers pressuring in the 78th minute, USF goalkeeper
Dane Brenner punched a cross, attempting to clear the ball from the mpenalty area. However, the ball found Barbosa who was just outside the area. With Brenner on the ground (from the clearance), Barbosa struck the ball to give FIU a 1-0 lead.
Trailing late in the game, USF pushed forward, looking for the equalizer. Sophomore
Rodrigo Hidalgo nearly tied the game twice in the final 10 minutes, first with a blast from 18-yards out (saved by FIU ?keeper Shawn Crowe) and then a breakaway in the box (broken up by the Golden Panthers' defense).
The loss marked the first season-opening defeat for USF under head coach George Kiefer (3-1-0).
USF next host Jacksonville on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the USF Soccer Stadium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youths/seniors.
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USF Bulls vs. FIU Golden Panthers
September 2, 2005 ? USF Soccer Stadium
1 2 F
FIU 0 1 1
USF 0 0 0
Scoring Summary: FIU ? Barbosa 1 (unassisted), 78'.
USF Bulls ? GK
Dane Brenner, D
Yohance Marshall, D
Kareem Smith, D
Joris Claessens, M
Brian Gil, M
Jason Devenish, M
Sammy Castellanos, M
Kevon Neaves, M
Rodrigo Hidalgo, F Kris Raad, F
Jordan Seabrook.
Substitutes: Andre Towsend,
Joey Brown,
Alex Muniz,
Blake Sharpe.
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (two players with 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Hidalgo 2); FOULS: 16; OFFSIDES: 7; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVE: Brenner 6.
FIU Golden Panters ? GK Shawn Crowe, D Chris Handy, D Cory Kendall, D Pierre HoSang, D Sheldon Jardine, M Jared Rose, M Paul Kolovos, M Jean Camere, F David Hope, F Carron Williams, F Osmany Hernandez.
Substitutes: Chris Megaloudis, Levi Coleman, Judah Hernandez, Danny Vazquez, Chris Andaur, Mario Franca, Bruno Barbosa, Ainsley Deer.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Vazquez 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Vazquez 2); FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: Crowe 4.
Cautions and Ejections: FIU ? Hernandez (caution), 18'; FIU ? HoSang (caution), 34'; USF ? Neaves (cautions), 60'.
Referee: Alex Ivahnenko
Assistant Referees: - Stephen Olson, Todd Davis
4th Official: Goree Fleck
Weather: Cloudy, rainy, 85 degrees
