Tempers flare after Bulls’ loss
Sophomore midfielder Lindo Mfeka was one of three Bulls to score in the second half in USF’s 4-3 loss to Tulsa.
ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
With emotions running high after USF’s 4-3 loss to Tulsa that went down to the final shot, a fight broke out involving Tulsa’s goalkeeper and several USF players.
Both benches cleared after Tulsa’s goalkeeper ended the game by deflecting a free kick. No player was injured in the fight.
A spokesman for the team said players were not allowed to make comments after the game and coach George Keifer refused to make a statement about the fight.
The Bulls started off the game with sloppy ball control and forced passes, which eventually led to Tulsa’s first goal off a counter-attack from senior defender Byron Knowles-Ramirez, who sped past the defense on the left side of the field and shot toward USF sophomore goalkeeper Spasoje Stefanovic’s far post.
The second half was back and forth as Stefanovic and Tulsa goalkeeper Brandon Hanat made continuous saves to keep their teams within reach.
The Bulls responded with two goals within a minute by sophomore midfielder Lindo Mfeka and senior forward Edwin Moalosi, respectively.
“I was pleased in the second half,” Keifer said. “We made a few tweaks to (our gameplay) and I felt like the game was going our way.”
After USF (6-4, 2-1) appeared to have the game wrapped up, leading 2-1 in the 80th minute, Tulsa put the game out of reach, six minutes later, with three consecutive goals.
“When we were up 2-1, our energy was a little too high and our concentration to details was off,” Keifer said. “You always want to stay in the right zone of confidence.”
The Bulls scored one more goal by senior midfielder Lucas Baldin with a shot from roughly 20-yards away, but the referee blew his whistle before the Bulls could send the game into overtime.
“I think we did put ourselves in a chance to tie it,” Keifer said. “We were inches away from getting it. I can’t look down on the guys’ effort to try to tie the game back up.”
USF will travel to Cincinnati (3-5-3, 0-2-1) this Saturday as AAC play continues.
More Stories
COLUMN: Cherish the press box moments
I still remember standing at mid-field as USF Football celebrated its Boca Raton Bowl win over Syracuse. Picture this scene: The crowd rushes to the field to surround the team and catch a glimpse of the Boca Raton Bowl trophy. “Go Bulls” echoed throughout the stadium, and green and gold confetti was everywhere. I soaked […]
Here’s how these undrafted USF football players’ careers turned out
Ahead of Thursday’s NFL Draft, many players wait in anticipation to hear their names called in the first round. For some, it’s an instant ticket to stardom. But being selected on the first day of the draft isn’t the only route to a successful career. Fifteen former undrafted NFL players are enshrined in the NFL […]
Column: USF men’s basketball, thanks for the fun season
This is a personal column about assistant sports editor Noah Vinsky’s first-hand experience covering men’s basketball. Sports have always run in my blood. Growing up, ESPN was nearly on a constant loop on my living room television. I came to USF knowing I wanted to be a writer. The Oracle seemed like a great place […]
USF’s Mindy McCord builds culture of “family and love” into lacrosse
At 23 years old, a career in coaching was not what Mindy McCord had envisioned. After a stint playing for one of the top field hockey teams in Australia following a successful college playing career, she returned to America. McCord was on track to earn a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech while coaching […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
Here’s why these USF softball players chose their jersey numbers
For athletes, the number they wear is more than the added fabric on the back of their jersey. It often tells a deeper story about the players — who they are and where they come from. Here’s why these three USF softball players chose their respective jersey numbers. Related: USF softball is gaining momentum during […]