South Florida soccer: Bulls boast best from home area
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA — USF men's soccer coach George Kiefer has a geographically eclectic roster, with four Bulls from Trinidad and Tobago, three from Venezuela, two from Colombia and others from England and Peru.
But down the middle of his Big East champions, you'll find local players from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, proud to host an NCAA Tournament game on their homefield, at 7:30 tonight against Harvard.
"Everyone focuses on the international guys we have, but it's been a huge priority for us from Day 1 to get the top local guys," Kiefer said. "If you look, they're playing right up the middle of the team. That's the heart of the team."
Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, a Countryside graduate, has 10 shutouts this season, and the Bulls start two locals in midfielders Fernando Gonzalez (Gaither) and Sebastien Thuriere (Seminole).
"I've known Sebastien and Fernando and (Wharton's) Ogi (Perucica) a long time from playing with them," Attinella said. "When we used to play club and high school, Florida was always tough competition, especially this area. Just to have people from this area on a team that's very diverse — a bunch of people from a bunch of countries — means a lot for this area."
The Bulls have played their best soccer at home this season, with no losses and only one tie at USF Soccer Stadium.
"Our fans, they give us an enormous boost of energy, and we always try harder to please them," Thuriere said. "And playing here, the temperature is a lot better for us. I'm sure up at Harvard right now it's cold."
Kiefer, who has another local in midfielder Santi Alexis (Jesuit), said the same climate that helps cultivate strong local players helps USF in recruiting.
"The soccer in Florida is one of the best states in the country, just because they can play year-round," Kiefer said. "If you look at the youth kids on national teams, they're loaded with Florida kids. To get the better local kids helps the program a lot."
Attinella typifies the team-first aspect of the Bulls — he's among the nation's leaders in goals-against average at 0.40 but passes the credit to his defense.
"They help out a lot. Yohance (Marshall) is just amazing," Attinella said. "Dre (Mittoo) and Javed (Mohammed) and Trey (Perry), we like to think we have one of the better defenses in the country. I don't normally face a lot of shots, and we broke the school shutout record, but a lot of it is because of them."
The Bulls (14-4-2) have drawn more than 1,000 fans seven times this season, with 2,192 attending an overtime win against Louisville in October. Even with students heading home for Thanksgiving, Kiefer hopes for a strong crowd tonight — with a win, the Bulls would stay home for a third-round game Saturday.
"The Tampa community has a great soccer history, so hopefully we can get them to come out (tonight)," Kiefer said. "The people in the community want to see local players out there, and I don't blame them. We're finally getting the better ones to stay home."
TONIGHT
USF vs. Harvard
When/where: 7:30;
USF Soccer Stadium
Radio: 1010-AM
Tickets: $7 for adults, $3 for children 18 and under
Notes: This second-round match features one of the nation's top offenses against one of its toughest defenses. Harvard (12-5) comes in averaging 2.06 goals per game — 11th nationally, led by Andre Akpan (10 goals) and Michael Fucito (nine). USF's top scorer is senior Jordan Seabrook, who leads the team in goals (five) and assists (six). USF, the No. 8 seed, would host a third-round game Saturday with a win. The Bulls, who haven't lost on their homefield this season, haven't faced an Ivy League opponent in 17 years.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer
Crimson Bullish For Next NCAA Match
By JAY M. COHEN, Crimson Staff Writer
The No. 30 Harvard men’s soccer team thinks it can play with the best teams in the country. The Crimson will have that chance tonight, as it faces No. 8 University of South Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Harvard (12-5, 5-2 Ivy) comes into the match on a high, following its dramatic 1-0 double-overtime victory over the University of Massachusetts on Saturday. Junior Andre Akpan scored the winner in the 103rd minute, sending the Crimson through to the second round.
The final result was only half the story from Amherst, MA, though. Strong wind and a hard, slippery playing surface made for a very sloppy game where each team was forced to play hopeful long balls.
Yesterday, the team traveled from the cold of Massachusetts to the sun in Florida in preparation for today’s match.
The change of scenery should make for a completely different game.
“Florida will have better conditions for us to play the way we want to play,” Akpan said.
Akpan and co-captain Michael Fucito lead the attack and have scored 19 goals between the two of them this season. With senior John Stamatis playing the creative midfield role in the hole behind them, and with sophomore Alex Chi and junior Adam Rousmaniere on the flanks, Harvard likes to move quickly up the field off the counter-attack. The warmer temperature in Tampa should allow the Crimson to play the ball to feet and use their skill to do what they do best.
Harvard will not be the only ones enjoying the conditions tonight. South Florida (14-4-2, 7-3-1 Big East) has not lost at home this season going 9-0-1. The Bulls have made USF Soccer Stadium a fortress, allowing only three goals all year on their home field.
South Florida is also a very technically gifted team, and there is no doubt that tonight’s matchup will prove much more pleasing to watch than the Crimson’s first-round battle.
Senior forward Jordan Seabrook leads the Bulls in both goals (five) and assists (six). Captain Yohance Marshall is the stalwart at the back, and was named to the Big East All-Conference First Team. He was joined by senior midfielder Kevon Neaves, who has international experience with the Trinidad & Tobago national team.
South Florida had a bye in the first round of the tournament following its Big East championship. The Bulls staked their claim as one of the nation’s best with their performance in the conference tournament. After disposing of Georgetown, South Florida came up against perennial powerhouse No. 11 Notre Dame—the team that had handed it an embarrassing 5-0 drubbing two months earlier. The Bulls came away with a 2-1 win that set up a thrilling final against No. 3 St. John’s. Again, South Florida was able to take revenge on a team that had beaten it earlier in the year. A 1-0 overtime victory handed the Bulls the Big East title and a top-ten ranking.
Tonight, Harvard will look to do what no other team has been able to. Junior Brian Grimm will have to make it more difficult for the Bulls to pass the ball in midfield if the Crimson is to thwart the South Florida attack and get through to the third round. Grimm has shown himself to be a valuable asset in his first season as a full-time starter, protecting the already solid back four of senior Michael Giammanco, junior Kwaku Nyamekye, co-captain Luke Sager, and sophomore Robert Millock.
Despite this being the third year in a row that Harvard has made the tournament, none of its current crop of players has made it past the second round.
“Last year we had intentions of going further,” co-captain Sager said. “Now we’ve gotten past the first step.”
The Crimson is hoping to take their chance this time around, and the team is looking to continue to play for as long as possible.
“Guys are just excited to get a few more days of soccer,” coach Jamie Clark said.
Harvard will look to extend their season into the weekend tonight. Kickoff in Tampa is scheduled for 7:30.
