Bulls Drop 2-1 Decision To Florida Gulf Coast

TAMPA (Sept. 1, 2010) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team had its 30-game home unbeaten streak snapped – the nation’s longest - with a tough 2-1 loss to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Wednesday night in front of 1,424 fans at the USF Soccer Stadium.

The two teams played a scoreless but extremely physical first half but things would pick up during the second 45 minutes of play.

Both USF and FGCU continued its back-and-forth play to kick off the second stanza, however the complexion of the match changed after the Bulls’ Hasani Sinclair was issued a red card in the 53rd minute of play.

The Eagles (1-0-0) would take advantage of playing a man down when Ryan Price took a pass from Deione Jones and put it just past Bulls goalkeeper Jeff Attinella in the 57th minute.

Florida Gulf Coast would then strike yet again, three minutes later, when Jones buried a pass from Jonathan Koshko into the back of the net in the 60th minute of play.

USF would keep the pressure on the Eagles as Bernardo Anor beat three defenders getting into the 18-yard box, however, was taken down leading to a penalty kick. The Bulls Kevin Olali would get the opportunity to square off against FGCU keeper Adam Glick, with Olali beating the Eagles net minder for his first career goal in the 77th minute.

USF would have two more key chances in the final 13 minutes of play, the first coming when Ben Sweat placed a shot just inches over the cross bar off a pass from Christopher Waugh in the 81st minute.

Anor then worked his way through the Eagle defense and took a shot from 15 yards out that went just high and wide right of the net.

USF’s loss tonight marks the first time since Sept. 20, 2007 that they were defeated on its home turf.

The Bulls will now hit the road for the first time during the 2010 season when they travel to face traditional collegiate soccer power Saint Louis on Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. (ET).

USF will return home on Sept. 7 when it takes on Stony Brook at 7:30 p.m. in the first of two straight matches at the USF Soccer Stadium. The Bulls will close out the short two-match home stand on Sept. 10 in a nationally televised contest on Fox Soccer Channel against Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m.