CINCINNATI, OHIO, OCT. 1, 2016 – The University of South Florida men's soccer team was defeated 2-1 by Cincinnati on the road Saturday at Gettler Stadium.
USF drops to 4-5-2 and 1-1-0 in the American Athletic Conference while the Bearcats remain perfect in league play and improve to 6-3-1 overall this season.
The Bearcats got on the board early, scoring in the eighth minute on a free kick from 22 yards out. The shot deflected off the Bulls' wall and Cincinnati's Adam Wilson was credited the goal. Despite the early score, USF battled back and controlled the pace, outshooting Cincinnati 9-7 in the first 45 minutes.
In the 67th minute, Cincinnati scored its eventual game winner on another free kick. Aerin West headed the kick from Wilson in for his second goal on the year.
The Bulls rallied back within one goal, scoring in the 77th minute. Cliff Mina (Adelaide, Australia) connected on a USF corner kick by Lindo Mfeka (Durban, South Africa), and drilled it into the corner with his left foot. USF rattled off four shots in the remaining 15 minutes, including one in the 89th minute by Melvin Becket (Melbourne, Australia), but couldn't clinch an overtime bid.
Key Stat:
The Bulls out-shot Cincinnati 20-14, with an 11-7 shot advantage in the second half. USF also held a 7-4 corner kick edge.
Notables:
Maina's goal was the first of his career.
Mfeka's assist moves him to a team-high eight points (2 goals, 4 assists).
Up Next:
USF continues league play Thursday against Tulsa (5-2-2, 1-0-0) at Corbett Stadium. The game will air live via BullsVision and tickets are available at GoUSFBulls.com or by calling 1-800-GoBulls.
The Bulls have reached the NCAA Tournament in nine of the last 11 years, including an 11-6-3 record and a second round NCAA appearance last season. Head coach George Kiefer was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) East Region Coach of the Year. Kiefer led USF to its eighth NCAA tournament appearance in the past nine years and earned the No. 2 ranking in the NSCAA East Region. The Bulls posted double-digit wins for the ninth time under Kiefer in 14 seasons and went undefeated at home during the regular season.
Follow the men's soccer team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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