MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 28, 2006) ?In rough conditions, including, rain, snow and 50-mile-per-hour wind gusts, the University of South Florida men's soccer team (9-6-4) was eliminated for the 2006 BIG EAST Championship with a 1-0 loss to West Virginia (15-1-2) on Saturday, Oct. 28 in Morgantown, W.Va.
The quarterfinal contest ? a rematch of last year's BIG EAST Quarterfinal match ? marked the fourth meeting between USF and West Virginia in the last two seasons.
A goal by Dan Stratford in the 68th minute was the only score of the night and handed USF its first loss to West Virginia since Oct. 21, 1983. With the wind at his back, Stratford cut off a USF clearance and lobbed a shot form approximately 35-yards out. The wind-aided shot got past goalkeeper Dane Brenner. The goal was the fourth of the season for Stratford.
During the first half of play, USF forced WVU goalkeeper Nick Noble to make five of his six total saves. USF entered halftime leading West Virginia 5-0 in shots on goal. The Bulls controlled most of the game's possession, due in part to the return of sophomore Yohance Marshall and junior Simon Schoendorf. In all, five different USF players had recorded multiple shots versus the Mountaineers.
Brenner finished the night making two saves as the USF defense held the No. 4-ranked team in the nation to just three shots on net. The High Point, N.C., native moved his record to 9-6-4 this season with a 0.80 GAA.
The loss ends USF's run in the 2006 BIG EAST Championship. The NCAA Tournament field of 48 teams will be announced on Monday, Nov. 6 from 5-5:30 p.m. on ESPNews.
USF Bulls at No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers
Oct. 28, 2006 ? Dlesk Stadium
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Scoring Summary: WVU ? Stratford 4 (unassisted), 68'.
USF Bulls ? GK Dane Brenner, D Joey Brown, D Kareem Smith, D Joris Claessens, D Yohance Marshall, MF Marc Doherty, MF Sammy Castellanos, MF Anthony Wallace, MF Rodrigo Hidalgo, F Hunter West, F Jordan Seabrook.
Substitutes: Blake Sharpe, Kris Raad, Simon Schoendorf.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Five players with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (two players with 2); FOULS: 7; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: Brenner 2.
West Virginia Mountaineers ? GK Nick Noble, Gift Maworere, Dan Stratford, Andy Wright, Chris Wittig, Mike Anoia, Andrew Halsell, Tony Lindroos, Pat Carroll, Alex Erwin, Paul Cunningham.
Substitutes: Jason Bristol, Reed Cooper, Ryan Gillespie, Chase Dewese, Jyler Noviello, Matt Ansley.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Stratford 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Stratford 2); FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Noble 6.
Cautions and Ejections: USF ? Doherty (caution), 3'; WVU ? Carroll (caution), 90'.
Referee: Jim Quinn
Assistant Referees: Nick Vuchenich, Stephen Kowalski
4th Official: Erik Blackburn
Weather: Cold and rainy
