Bulls Get NCAA First Round Win

Bulls Get 2-1 NCAA First Round Win Over Stetson

Box Score (PDF)

TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's soccer team scored two unanswered goals to erase an early 1-0 Stetson lead en route to a 2-1 win in the NCAA Tournament first round tonight at the USF Soccer Stadium.

The Bulls, who improved their record to 14-3-3 on the year with tonight's victory, advances to play at No. 1 ranked and top seed Akron. The Zips come into the second round after a first round bye, and boast an unblemished 20-0-0 record on the year.

The Hatters, who end the season 14-4-2, got on the board first with an unassisted goal by Fredrik Brustad just seven minutes into the contest.

USF, however, tied the game at one goal apiece six minutes later when Sebastien Thuriere took a perfectly placed corner kick - to the back corner of the goal - from Javed Mohammed and headed it into the back of the net.

The Bulls would keep the pressure on Stetson with several big opportunities that were denied at the last second.

Anor would get his first chance from just over two yards out in the 25th minute; however the Hatters' goalkeeper Logan Potter would make a diving finger-tip save to keep the game tied.

Anor would get another chance with a little over 11 minutes left in the half off a pass from Jorge Mora, however he headed the ball high.

Then, with seven minutes remaining before, the intermission, Anor would connect on what would be the game winner on a header off the second assist of the night from Mohammed.

Both team's came out in the second half and went back-and-forth exchanging opportunities for the majority of the final 45 minutes.

Stetson would get three late chances in the final seven-plus minutes, including a good look from the top of the box by Jonathan Mendoza with 10 seconds left in the contest, which went wide.

On the night, Anor would get four shots off for the Bulls on the night, including two on net, while Hasani Sinclair also attempted four shots with two coming on net.

Brustad would take three shots, two coming on goal en route to the Hatter's lone score.

In addition to advancing to the second round, USF extended its home unbeaten streak to 30 games with its win tonight. The Bulls are 26-0-4 in their last 30 games at the USF Soccer Stadium and have not lost on their home turf since Sept. 20, 2007 against Connecticut (2-1). The current streak is the longest such streak in the nation and fifth longest all-time in Division I, tying Indiana, who did it twice, and UCLA.