USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Head coach George Kiefer admitted he lost sleep at the beginning of the season determining who his main center backs were going to be.

Ashani Fairclough and Brenton Griffiths have put Kiefer at ease and have helped the USF men's soccer team become the lone undefeated squad in Big East play this season heading into Saturday's 7:30 p.m. home game against Villanova.

"In my eyes they are the two best center backs in the country, and I think we've formed a really good group," senior keeper Chris Blais said.

Combining the two together for the task of anchoring the defense has turned out to be a perfect fit. Both Fairclough and Griffiths come from Jamaica, where they played against each other at younger ages and with each other on the national team.

"It's always fun to talk about old times," Fairclough said.

The Bulls have been having a lot of fun on the pitch this season. USF is 10-2-2 (5-0-1 in conference play) and leads the Big East's Red Division.

"We take pride in keeping the score at a minimum, plus we like winning," Fairclough said.

It has shown on the field.

Fairclough, Griffiths and the rest of the Bulls' defense have allowed multiple goals in only five games. USF also has posted five shutouts this season.

Kiefer said his dynamic duo of center backs is a big part of USF's success, especially during the Bulls' eight-game unbeaten streak.

"They're starting to always be in good spots to cover one another," Kiefer said.

Communication has been the key to Fairclough and Griffiths keeping a tight clamp on teams from the back.

"We have to be on the same page," Fairclough said. "I can't be stepping up and he's dropping. That leaves a big gap between us."

Both players shined on national television on Tuesday night in a 3-1 victory at Louisville that was broadcast on ESPNU. The Cardinals were shut out in the first half and needed a penalty kick after the break to avoid the shutout.

"Everybody knew what they had to do before the first whistle was blown," Griffiths said. "We wanted that three points. We fought towards it and we got it."

"We" is a common term both players use, and each one quickly talks about team success before their own accomplishments. You can't talk about USF without using the term "diverse" either.

Seven different countries are represented on the Bulls' roster with four players hailing from Jamaica, three from England, three from Venezuela, two from Norway, one from Brazil and one from Trinidad.

"You can turn on the news and see so many problems in the world," Kiefer said. "It's a nice feeling to be able to get so many guys from so many different beliefs and different backgrounds to be working for each other."

Differences can keep teams apart, but not in the Bulls' case. Fairclough and Griffiths appreciate the blend of styles USF brings and said it has helped the group become a family.

"We create our own culture in the locker room," Fairclough said. "You may have people from different places, but in the locker room it's one."

Part of making everyone feel at home is the addition of humor to situations and the gifted Jamaicans bring it often. Both have a knack of cracking jokes at any place and coaches aren't off-limits.

"They both have two very different senses of humor, but they both always can make people laugh," Blais said.

The comedy bug even has rubbed off on Kiefer a bit.

"He says that he has more countries than the UN," Fairclough said with a laugh.

SATURDAY'S GAME INFO

Who: Villanova (4-7-4, 2-3-1 in Big East) at USF (10-2-2, 5-0-1).

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Corbett Soccer Stadium, Tampa.

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