TAMPA, Fla. ? Three goals each from senior Simon Schoendorf and freshman Bernardo Anor lifted the 16th ranked University of South Florida men's soccer team to a 6-1 win over American University Saturday night. The fifth win of the year equals the best start of head coach George Kiefer's career.
The Bulls (5-0-0) came out of the gates early looking to impress a lively crowd at the USF Soccer Stadium.
Just 3:27 into the match, Schoendorf connected on a rebounded post-shot from teammate Jordan Seabrook in the box about seven yards out for his first goal of the night and second on the year.
The senior from Karlsruhe, Germany, enjoyed a career-night as he tallied his personal-best in goals with three, points (six) and shots (five). Following his hat trick, the midfielder now leads the team in overall points with 11.
One minute after Schoendorf's first score, American (3-2-0) was able to tie the game as Karsten Smith gathered the ball off of a feed from Daniel Shannon in USF's box. Smith's shot found the back of the net despite the efforts of the Bulls' defenders trying to deflect it.
The match became all USF from there on out.
In the 26th minute, Kevon Neaves lined up for a corner kick that the Eagles' keeper Chris Sedlak blocked out to Anor who hammered it home for the first points of the Caracas, Venezuela, native's collegiate career.
Anor would add his second goal midway through the 45th minute on a breakaway that he put past Sedlak, who was tested to the extreme all night with USF launching 20 total shots his way.
Newcomer Javed Mohammed was credited with the assist on Anor's second goal, garnering him his first point in a USF jersey.
Schoendorf waited until the 41st minute for his second goal, taking advantage of penetration in American's box with Seabrook and Kris Raad. After several short passes, Schoendorf was able to get a clear look to the back of the net to extend USF's lead to 3-1.
Raad and Schoendorf connected one more time in the expiring ticks of the match. In the 90th minute Schoendorf completed his hat trick off of Raad's give that beat a weary Eagles defense. For Raad, his two assists on the night earned the Chuluota, Fla., native the first points of his senior season.
Anor capped his night in the 72nd frame off of a pass from Seabrook, fired in from the top of the box. Seabrook's assist, his third of the game at that point, gives him the team-lead with five on the year. The sprinter from Indianapolis, Ind., has tallied nine points this season and 60 total in his outstanding career.
Keeper Diego Restrepo saw his consecutive shutout streak end at three, following the lone Eagles goal, however the first-year net-minder still boasts a .60 GAA and a .870 save percentage.
Following USF's highest offensive output of the season, the Bulls have now out-scored opponents 15-3 on the year. The stat is something that will only help to enhance the men's soccer team's stance in the polls.
“I don't think we're reading too much into our rankings,” Kiefer said following the game. “We've got a lot to work on. The team is good right now, we have good results, but we can get a lot better.”
The Bulls will look to show off that enhanced skill as they welcome No. 2 Connecticut to the USF Soccer Stadium to open up BIG EAST play next Friday, Sept. 21. The Huskies will also enter the contest with an undefeated record and the conference's Offensive Player of the Week for the past two weeks, O'Brian White. Match time is slated for 7:30 p.m.
