TAMPA (Nov. 12, 2022) – The No. 3-seeded University of South Florida men’s soccer team returns to the pitch on Sunday afternoon to face top-seeded FIU in the championship match of the American Athletic Conference Tournament at the FIU Soccer Stadium in Miami. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. and the match can be seen live on ESPN+. The winner will earn The American’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament while the runner-up will await an at-large bid into the postseason event.
The Green and Gold, who have now won five-straight matches and are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13, play in their fourth AAC championship match (2022, 2016, 2014, 2013) winning the inaugural AAC Championship in 2013.
South Florida is now 10-5 all-time in the American Athletic Conference Tournament and 3-2 as a No. 3 seed.
During this year’s tournament, the Bulls defeated Charlotte, in the first round, 2-1, on Nov. 6 and SMU in the semifinals on Thursday, 1-0.
South Florida and FIU played to a 3-3 draw on Oct. 16 at Corbett Stadium in Tampa. Brian Schaefer, Segun Afolabi and Oscar Resano netted goals for the Bulls with Resano’s goal being the equalizer in the 80′.
Resano (5g) and Ajmeer Spengler (4g, 2a) lead the team in points with 10 each. They are followed by Alfred Perez (3g, 1a) with seven points and Schaefer (2g, 1a), Marcus Victorio (1g, 3a) and Shion Soga (1g, 3a) who are all tied for fourth in scoring with five points apiece.
MATCH 18 | SUN. NOV. 13, 2022 | 1 P.M. | FIU SOCCER STADIUM, MIAMI, FLA.
WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS | AAC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
NO. 3 SEED USF BULLS | 8-5-4
Last Game: Nov. 10, vs. SMU, W, 1-0
Next Game: NCAA Tournament (if nec.)
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 172-137-41 (20th season)
At USF: 42-39-13 (Sixth season)
NO. 1 SEED FIU PANTHERS | 12-4-1
Last Game: Nov. 10 vs. FIU, W, 1-0
Next Game: NCAA Tournament (if nec.)
Head Coach: Kevin Russel
Career Record: 28-12-4 (Third Season)
At FIU: Same
SOUTH FLORIDA IN THE AAC TOURNAMENT
– South Florida is 10-5 all-time in the American Athletic Conference Tournament and 3-2 as a No. 3 seed … The Bulls advance to the title match after getting postseason revenge on SMU in the semifinals on Thursday night, 1-0 …
– In South Florida’s last appearance in the AAC semis on Nov. 13, 2019 – also as a No. 3 seed – the Green and Gold fell to second-seeded SMU in a heartbreaker, 2-1 in double overtime.
– Sunday will be the Bulls’ fourth appearance in the American Athletic Conference championship match, having advanced in 2013, 2014 and 2016 … South Florida won the inaugural AAC Championship in 2013, defeating UConn, 0-0 (6-5 in penalty kicks).
THE SERIES VS. FIU
– South Florida and FIU meet for the 33rd time with the Panthers edging out the Bulls with a 14-13-5 overall record.
– The two sides last met on Oct. 16 in Tampa resulting in a 3-3 draw.
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
– In its first year as members of the American Athletic Conference, FIU claimed the regular season championship with an 11-4-1 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the AAC tournament.
– The Panthers enter the finals after defeating Memphis, 1-0 on Thursday at the FIU Soccer Stadium … Stephen Afrifa’s (23 pts; 10g, 3a) performance along with a lock-down defense secured the 1-0 win.
LAST TIME OUT
– No. 3 Seeded-South Florida defeated No. 16-ranked and second-seeded SMU, 1-0 – the only conference opponent the Green and Gold lost to during the regular season – on Thursday in the semifinals of the American Athletic Association Tournament, 1-0 … The victory extended the team’s win streak to five games … The Bulls are unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 matches.
– The Mustangs were called for a foul on South Florida in the box in the 30′ … Miami’s own Alfred Perez stepped to the spot and fired a shot that slightly deflected off SMU goalkeeper Bram Kaarsgaren’s left hand and up into the top of the goal to give the Bulls the lead for the only goal of the match.
– SMU missed a penalty kick wide left in the 70′ and had a goal taken down due to an offsides called nine minutes later.
A LOOK AHEAD
– The 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Selection Show will be Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com … The field includes 48 teams, 23 of those teams will get the automatic bid because of conference championships.
About USF Men’s Soccer
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USF Men’s Soccer competed in the school’s first ever intercollegiate athletic contest on Sept. 25, 1965, beating Florida Southern 4-3. Since then, the oldest program on campus has built a winning tradition, claimed 14 conference championships and made 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 29 MLS draft picks. Notable alumni include two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, USA 1994 World Cup star Roy Wegerle, and 2013 MLS Cup winner Dom Dwyer.
The Bulls have advanced to the postseason in 18 of the past 20 years, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances during that period.
The University of South Florida men’s soccer team was well represented on the AAC postseason All-Conference Team in 2021 with four players earning honors. Highlighting the Bulls’ honorees was the American Athletic Conference Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, Kazuna Takase, along with first-team selection Shion Soga. In addition, Takase was also selected to the All-Conference Second Team along with Salvatore Mazzaferro, and Josh Gomina was named to the AAC All-Rookie Team.
– #GoBulls –
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