The voice of USF Athletics, Jim Louk, will routinely put down his radio headset and pick up the pen to share his perspective on the history of USF Athletics.

Louk has been broadcasting games for 27 years and is the resident historian in the Athletics Department hallways ... This week he remembers the the great run of the 2008 men's soccer team.

Letters From Louk: The 2008 Men's Soccer Postseason Run                                           

By: JIM LOUK
GoUSFBulls.com

With men' soccer claiming at least a share of the 2011 Big East Conference Red Division crown last night, it is a good time to look back at some recent USF Athletics history.  It was three years ago that men' s soccer was making their most impressive postseason run to date.

The Bulls were a very consistent team throughout the 2008 season, ranked as high as number 8 and never falling lower than number 21.  USF never lost two matches in a row, and had two separate five-match winning streaks.

They wrapped up their regular season on November 1 with a 1-0 win over Rutgers. The victory left them with an 11-4-2 regular season record and a series of post season home opportunities ahead.

Jordan Seabrook and Zak Boggs carried most of the scoring load that year; Seabrook finished with 18 points and Boggs 15.

In the middle of that 2008 roster were two Bulls now playing a key part in the program's 2011 success; Sebastien Thuriere and Aubrey Perry.  At the helm was current head coach George Kiefer. 

“That team had a lot of depth and overcame some key injuries,” recalls Kiefer.  “Bernardo Anor was hurt in September, and Kevon Neaves was hurt later in the season.  It made the guys dig deeper.”

The Bulls opened their Big East run in the quarterfinals at home against Georgetown on November 9.  Jordan Seabrook scored both goals as USF won 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinals against Notre Dame.

On November 14 it was Francicso Aristequieta's turn.   The junior hadn't scored all season, but put two in the net against the Irish in a 2-1 win.  For Kiefer, the win was especially important because the Bulls rallied from a 1-0 deficit. “This time of year you want to learn new things,” he said after the game. “To be down one-nothing to one of the better teams in the country then to come back and win the game in regulations says a lot about us.”

The win propelled the Bulls into the conference finals just two days later against St. John's in the old USF Soccer Stadium.

The match was scoreless at the end of regulation, setting up the overtime heroics of a true freshman from Seminole High School who up until then had scored only one collegiate goal in his career.

“It was a great feeling because I had to fight for my spot all year,” recalls Sebastien Thuriere.  “The guys were so supportive and the team worked so hard.  On that play, Jordan Seabrook made a deep run, cut in to the box and the ball came to me.  I was standing in front of the goal.  I had the easy part.” 

“My best moment at USF,” says George Kiefer.  “The fact that Doug Woolard had been able to bring the conference tournament to Tampa meant so much.  It provided a lot of motivation to play well.”

It was the first Big East soccer tournament championship for the program.  The Bulls remained unbeaten at home, and got an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament while handing the Red Storm just their second loss of the season.

And the NCAA Tournament?  The Bulls did the Big East proud with a second round win over Harvard at home to make the Sweet 16.  Zak Boggs had two goals. Then goalkeeper Jeff Attinella was the hero in a penalty kick thriller over UNC Greensboro that sent the Bulls to the Elite 8.

The season ended in Winston Salem, North Carolina on December 6 with a loss to Wake Forest.

The 2008 Bulls finished 15-5-3, and made their mark with the longest postseason run in program history.

“There was a togetherness,” says Kiefer.  “A lot of those guys still come back.  There were a lot of friendships on that team, and that always helps you.”

Now, the 2011 squad is off to Rutgers for the regular season finale.  Again this year, there will be opportunities at home in the Big East Tournament for the Bulls, this time in Corbett Stadium.

Thuriere sees a strong bond between his 2008 and his 2011 teammates. 

“The work rate is amazing for every player….from the guys who play every minute to the guys on the bench.  The desire to win is incredible.”

The Bulls 2011 season began back on August 30 against Bowling Green.  

Now, tournament play is around the corner, and with it comes a chance at another historic post season run.