Men’s soccer falls to FIU in AAC Championship final
USF men’s soccer lost 2-0 to No. 1 seed FIU on Sunday in Miami, failing to get its fourth AAC Championship win.
Earlier this season, the Bulls (8-6-4, 5-1-3 AAC) tied 3-3 with the Panthers (14-4-1, 6-2-1 AAC) after a last minute goal from sophomore forward Oscar Resano. He is the team’s top goal scorer for this season with five under his belt.
Following Resano in goals is junior midfielder Ajmeer Spengler with four, and graduate forward Alfred Perez with three.
None of the players on the team were able to place a goal against the Panthers on Sunday. Resano only had one shot for the entirety of the game while Spengler had two. The team finished the game with only six shots, three of which were on frame.
USF started the match with the same lineup that led to its 1-0 win against No. 2 seed SMU in the AAC Championship semifinals on Thursday.
South Florida was fast in responding to the Panthers’ quick counterattacks during the first half until FIU forward Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro opened the scoreboard in the 23rd minute.
Attacking from the left side of the field, the striker fooled USF goalkeeper Jackson Weyman by tapping the ball with his right foot and slipping it into the net.
Shortly after an unsuccessful corner kick from the Panthers at the 41st minute, FIU was able to secure a second attempt a minute later.
Unable to recuperate in time after the first corner kick, USF’s defense allowed FIU’s second goal of the evening after a Panthers defender was able to place a header into the net, giving the No. 1 seed its safety goal of the match.
USF finished the first half with one shot. FIU had five, three of which were on goal.
Sophomore center back Brian Schaefer and FIU midfielder Matteo Gasperoni both earned yellow cards in the first half.
By the end of the match, South Florida only had six shots, one of which was on frame. FIU had 14, seven of which were on goal. This is the first time in the Bulls’ 12 previous games where they did not score a goal.
FIU received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for winning the final Sunday. USF will have to wait for a larger bid on Monday to see if they place into any postseason games.
The seating for the College Cup tournament will be announced Monday at 1 p.m. during the selection show, which will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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