STORRS, Conn., OCT. 15, 2016 –  The game plan was simple, defend for 90 minutes. Head coach George Kiefer previewed the University of South Florida’s men’s soccer game against No. 24/13 UConn as another big match-up in a hostile environment. Declared the “underdog,” USF stunned the Huskies, 1-0, at Morrone Stadium on Saturday night.

USF (6-6-2, 3-1-0 The American) held the top team in the American Athletic Conference standings scoreless for just the fourth time this season and snapped a UConn (10-4-0, 3-1-0 The American) seven-match win streak. USF also handed the Huskies their second home loss of the year.

Despite missing one of the nation’s most prominent scorers from one year ago, Nazeem Bartman (Cape Town, South Africa), due to injury, the Bulls offense didn’t skip a beat in the first half of action Saturday night. Following the game plan, USF controlled the pace, and worked the ball side-to-side before Melvin Becket (Melbourne, Australia) scored in the 21^st minute. Becket took advantage of an opening on a quick free kick and ran up the middle to connect on a pass from Ricardo Gomez (Gainesville, Ga). Lindo Mfeka (Durban, South Africa) was also credited with an assist.

The Bulls defense played outstanding, handling a frenzied UConn attack. The Huskies took eight shots, and took four corner kicks, but the Bulls’ back line, anchored by veterans Prosper Fibe (Ilorin, Nigeria) and Graham Smith (New Hope, Pa.), held steady despite the pressure.

Spasoje Stefanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) tallied one save in 90 minutes, but punched a few attempts clear in his fifth shutout this season. 

QUOTABLES:

Head coach George Kiefer on the environment at Morrone Stadium:

“I thought our guys handled the environment very well. We’ve played some of the best teams in the country this season. You look at what we’ve done at USF, I’ve worked at UConn, and we’ve tried to build the same type of atmosphere in Tampa. Our guys are comfortable playing in front of this type of crowd.” 

Head coach George Kiefer on tonight’s game plan:

“Great shutout. I’m really pleased with the guys. With all the things that have gone or strayed from us with injuries, the discipline of our guys was excellent. To catch a restart goal, when we’ve been giving them up this season, I’m really pleased with their performance.”

Senior Melvin Becket (#8) on his-game winning goal:

“It was a team play. One player recognizing another player’s run. It’s what we work on in practice. We want to get an opportunity like that. Credit to Ricardo (Gomez) for playing the ball through, he knew my run and he knew where I was going, so that’s exactly what we executed.”

Senior Melvin Becket (#8) on playing a large role on both offense and defense:

“Like coach said, our game plan is to make sure we go forward but also be able to track back. It’s 90 minutes, and if you’re called on to play all 90 minutes, you’ve got to do it. That was the game plan tonight and we stuck to it. UConn is a great team. This is what we live for. At the end of the day, this is the position we want to be in going into the next conference game.”

KEY STAT:

USF only took three shots, all in the first half, but two of the three were on goal. UConn took eight shots, and only tallied two shots on goal.

NOTABLES: 

Becket’s goal was his third of the season. Becket has scored all three in consecutive games and is the only Bull to score in three straight games this season. Three other players have scored goals in back-to-back games this season (Luis Garza, Mfeka, Nazeem Bartman).

USF’s win was the first over a top-25 opponent since defeating No. 3 Georgetown, 2-0, last season (Aug. 31) in Tampa. It was the Bulls’ first road win over a top-25 opponent since facing No. 20 SMU Aug. 31, 2012.

Up Next:

USF (3-1-0 The American) returns to Tampa for its first home game 16 days Oct. 22. The Bulls will host Memphis (7-5-1, 1-2-1 The American) at Corbett Stadium in a 7 p.m. night cap. 

The Bulls have reached the NCAA Tournament in nine of the last 11 years, including an 11-6-3 record and a second round NCAA appearance last season. Head coach George Kiefer was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) East Region Coach of the Year. Kiefer led USF to its eighth NCAA tournament appearance in the past nine years and earned the No. 2 ranking in the NSCAA East Region. The Bulls posted double-digit wins for the ninth time under Kiefer in 14 seasons and went undefeated at home during the regular season. 

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