Setting The Scene
Date: Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Kickoff: Noon Eastern
Stadium: Joseph J. Morrone Stadium
Tickets: 877-AT UCONN
The Game
On Sunday afternoon, head Coach George Kiefer will lead the University of South Florida men's soccer team into the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship as the Bulls kick off against the Connecticut Huskies at Noon at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs.
Listen To The Game
Fans can get FREE sideline-to-sideline radio coverage of the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer game by logging on to Connecticut's website at WHUS.org.
View The Game
Fans can watch the game unfold on Gametracker, by clicking here.
Third Time Is A Charm
The Bulls look to improve on their 0-2 record against Connecticut this season and 0-6 overall clip against the Huskies. The Bulls have played UConn in four regular season contests and two BIG EAST Conference Tournaments, scoring only twice, once apiece on Sept. 21, 2007 and Sept. 13, 1998.
Shut ?Em Out
The 2007 USF squad has tied the school record for team shutouts in a season (9), which was set by the 1992 team and with Jeff Gopsill in goal. Current USF keeper Diego Restrepo has eight of the 2007 team's nine blank sheets, along with one from Jeffrey Attinella.
On The Edge Of History
The Bulls' two victories in the 2007 NCAA Championships ties the school record for wins in the NCAA tournament. The 1997 squad also won two games, at FIU (3-1) and at St. John's (2-1), but lost to Indiana (6-0) to end their post season run.
Four and Counting
The Bulls are just four victories away from breaking the school's all-time season win total of 17, set in 1996. USF is currently tied for fourth on the all-time list.
1. 17-4-0, 1996
2. 15-4-1, 1983
15-7-0, 2001
4. 14-1-1, 1980
14-5-2, 2007
14-8-2, 1997
Bulls Beating the Best
The Bulls are 5-2 against ranked teams this season, with both losses coming against Connecticut, who was ranked second in the country in the first meeting (Sept. 21) and was the top team in the nation when playing in the BIG EAST Tournament (Nov. 10).
USF Not To Be Outdone
USF has outscored its opponents 40-18 this season, and 21-5 in the first period. The Bulls also outshot their opponents 123-81 in the first period and 16-9 in overtime.
Kiefer in Control
Head Coach George Kiefer is 64-37-13 overall and 3-0-1 in the NCAA Tournament while at USF.
Only Four Remain
After seven made the tournament, only four BIG EAST men's soccer teams remain in the NCAA Championship. Three teams, Connecticut, Notre Dame and West Virginia earned national seeds and a First Round bye, and USF has won two games on their way to Third Round action.
Sunday matchups for those schools are as follows: USF at No 3. Connecticut, No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Santa Clara and No. 15 West Virginia at No. 1 Wake Forest.
USF and Louisville advanced after victories in the opening round, as the Bulls beat Colgate 2-1 and the Cardinals outlasted Duke 1-0. Louisville dropped their Second Round game 1-0 to No. 5 Ohio State. DePaul lost to Bradley and Old Dominion beat Providence to end the seasons for those two conference schools.
Tops In Stats
As a team, USF is 17th in the country in scoring offense, tallying 39 goals in 20 games (1.95 gpg). The Bulls are 23rd in won-lost-tied percentage, posting a .70 mark.
Individually Jordan Seabrook is tied for second nationally with teammate Kevon Neaves for recording three assists in a singe game. Seabrook's three spot came against American on Sept. 15 and Neaves' assists in triplicate were against Cincinnati on Oct. 24.
Simon Schoendorf is second in assists per game (.65) and 32nd in points per game (1.35) while Kevon Neaves is close behind at 33rd in points with a 1.33 per game average and 10th in assists with .53 per game.
All-Time NCAA Records
USF is now 8-9-2 in the NCAA Tournament, with wins coming in 2007 (2), 2005, 2001, 1997 (2), 1973 and 1969. The Bulls' best finish in the tournament prior to 2007 was the 1997 season when head coach David Christiansen led the team into the Third Round.
Career Years
Midfielder Kevon Neaves, who scored 15 points over his first two seasons at USF, has surpassed his season-high total in points by recording 20 this season. Neaves also recorded his career game-highs in goals (2) and points (5) in the 5-2 win over UCF to begin the year.
Simon Schoendorf has tied his season-high in goals (7) and eclipsed his season assist total of seven, notching 13 helpers this season. Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo notched his career-high in saves with seven against No. 15 USC on 9/8. Jordan Seabrook has tied his season-high in assists (8) this season. He now has 19 career helpers.
Francisco Aristeguieta recorded his first-career goal and assist this season, as did Bernardo Anor (7g, 2a), Luke Magill (1g, 1a), Armante Marshall (1g, 2a), Andre Mittoo (2g, 1a) and Tony Taylor (4g, 1a). Joris Claessens and Javed Mohammed each tallied his first career assist this season.
About the NCAA Championship
Twenty-two conferences received an automatic bid into the 2007 tournament and the remaining 26 teams were selected on an at-large basis. The top 16 teams are seeded in the bracket and the remaining 32 squads are paired according to geographical proximity with each other. A complete bracket for the 2007 Division I Men's Soccer Championship can be viewed at http://www.ncaasports.com/.
Make It A Dozen
USF has now qualified for the NCAA Championships 12 times. The Bulls' first appearance was in 1969 and the most recent was in 2005.
The Last Time
USF's last appearance in the NCAA Tournament was when Kiefer led the Bulls to a 1-0-1 record in 2005. That season USF beat Stetson 3-0 at home, but then got eliminated by Virginia on PKs (6-7) after tying the game 4-4.
Returning To The Tournament
Seven players from the 2005 squad will be playing against the team from the Patriot League Conference this Friday, including Jordan Seabrook, Simon Schoendorf, Kevon Neaves, Joris Claessens, Yohance Marshall, Jason Devenish and Kris Raad.
Throughout the 2005 season, those seven guys combined for 63 percent of the teams' total points, 73 percent of the goals and 48 percent of the assists. This season that combination of players account for 64 percent of the total points, and 56 percent of goals and 77 percent of the assists.
Weekly Awards Pile Up
Six Bulls earned weekly honors throughout the season, collecting seven BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll awards, two Soccer America National Team of the Week accolades and a pair of College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors. Diego Restrepo (2), Simon Schoendorf (2), Jordan Seabrook, Kevon Neaves and Bernardo Anor each picked up league honors. Schoendorf won both CSN awards and one Soccer America honor, while Andre Mittoo earned the other.
Top 25 RPI for USF
USF registered an RPI of 22 in the final soccer ratings, which was the fifth-best in the BIG EAST.
BIG EAST Postseason Awards
Five Bulls earned spots on the 2007 BIG EAST All-Conference team. Sophomore Kevon Neaves was the only Bull chosen for the first team. Senior Simon Schoendorf and juniors Yohance Marshall and Jordan Seabrook were selected to the second team and freshman Bernardo Anor was picked for the third team.
