USF Drops Tough 1-0 Decision at No. 11 Louisville



TAMPA (October 7, 2009) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team knew coming into tonight’s match at Louisville that it was going to be a dog fight. First of all, it was a Top 15 match-up between USF, ranked No. 3 and the Cardinals who were tabbed as the No. 12 team in America in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll. Add the fact that this game was for first place in the Red Division of the BIG EAST Conference standings, you can certainly say that there was a lot on the line.



Well a dog fight, and a defensive standoff, is exactly what the 1,345 fans saw tonight as Louisville handed the Bulls a tough 1-0 loss tonight at the Cardinal Park Soccer Stadium. The setback drops USF’s record to 7-2-1 and 3-2-1 in the BIG EAST, while Louisville improves to 7-1-2 and 4-1-1- in the BIG EAST.



“Tonight was a tough loss,” said USF head coach George Kiefer. “You have to give Louisville credit on the night, they were good, but from our standpoint, they didn’t beat us at our best. We just have to put this behind us and get ready for the next one.”



Neither team had many opportunities in the first half to get on the board as the first 45 minutes went scoreless. The Bulls got off one shot in the first stanza with that coming from Javed Mohammed, and going high in the 25th minute of play.



The Cardinals only got off five shots with just one coming on net. Louisville did have the advantage of three corner kicks to none for USF, however could not put the ball in the back of the net.



The second half went pretty much like the first with the Bulls not getting a lot going offensively.



Hasani Sinclair, who led the team with two shots on the night, took both in the first nine minutes of the final half, including USF’s only shot on goal in the 54th minute.



The defensive battle extended deep into the second half with each team mustering just three shots apiece until Lou Rolfe got the Cardinals on the board first in the 84th minute of action taking a cross from J.T. Murray and putting it in the back of the net from about 15 yards out making the score 1-0.



That would be the only goal that Louisville would need en route to the win.



Attinella recorded just two saves on the night on three shots on goal. Andrea Boudreaux would need just one save in the games 90 minutes on USF’s one shot on net.



USF now returns home, to the USF Soccer Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. to take on St. John’s in a rematch of the 2008 BIG EAST Conference Tournament championship game.



Season tickets for USF men’s soccer games are $40 for adults and $20 for youths and senior citizens. Adult individual match tickets are $6, while youth and senior citizen admission is $3. All groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $2.50 per ticket. All USF students will be admitted at no cost when they display their student ID.