FIU took down No. 10 Tulsa to begin their era in the American Athletic Conference.
Friday, September 16
FIU 3, Tulsa 0 – Box Score
South Florida 1, FAU 1 – Box Score
FIU 3, Tulsa 0 – Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. – No. 24 FIU Men's Soccer hosted No. 10 Tulsa, Friday night, taking down the reigning conference champions, 3-0.
The Panther's high press paid dividends almost immediately. Senior Stephen Afrifa stole an errant pass in the seventh minute, rushing past multiple Tulsa defenders and finishing the chance to give FIU the early lead.
FIU would double its advantage in the 44th minute when an incredible display of dribbling by sophomore Julien Gastaldy was capped with a precise finish to the far post putting the Panthers ahead 2-0.
In the second half, Afrifa's defensive work rate would once again pay major dividends. At the 56-minute mark, Afrifa would come up with a steal after a well-timed tackle and go on a strong solo run, burying his second goal of the match, and fifth of the young season, putting the Panthers up 3-0.
The rest of the half would see a valiant defensive effort to secure the victory. Led by a stellar performance from Carlos Scheckermann, FIU stood strong to blank Tulsa and register the third shutout of the season.
South Florida 1, FAU 1 – Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of South Florida men's soccer team opened up American Athletic Conference play on Friday looking for its second-straight win, however, the Bulls had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Florida Atlantic at the FAU Soccer Stadium. The match marked the first-ever AAC contest for the Owls.
After trailing in shots early on in the first half, 3-0, the Bulls (1-3-2, 0-0-1 AAC) stepped up the offensive pressure outshooting the Owls (1-3-2, 0-0-1 AAC), 7-1, to end the first stanza.
Alex Sannes closed out the first 45 minutes in style by beating Florida Atlantic goalkeeper, Neil Strauber, to the bottom left corner of the goal off a perfectly placed ball by Marcus Victorio to make the score 1-0 in the 39'. South Florida took that advantage into the locker room at the break. For Sannes, a freshman, it was his second career goal and his second in as many matches after missing the first four contests due to injury.
The Owls came out in the second half and got the equalizer, quickly, in the 53' on a goal by Kyle Gruno. That was the final goal of the match.
Florida Atlantic nearly got the go-ahead goal in the 74' but it was waved off for offsides. South Florida's Oscar Resano then had an opportunity eight minutes later firing a shot on goal – the Bulls' only shot of the half – that was saved by Strauber in the 82'.
The second half didn't offer many chances as both sides combined for just four shots, including one for each team on goal.
Resano finished the night with two shots, including a match-high two on goal, while Shion Soga also had two shots.
South Florida goalkeeper, Jackson Weyman, had three saves all coming in the first half.