Schoendorf Helps No. 15 Bulls Fight Off VU

[Brad]

Schoendorf Helps No. 15 Bulls Fight Off VU

TAMPA, Fla. –  The No. 15 University of South Florida men’s soccer team picked up a valuable win Friday night at the USF Soccer Stadium, as the squad dominated Red Division leading Villanova 3-0 in front of an electric crowd.

USF, 8-2-2 (3-2-1), saw goals from freshman Bernardo Anor, senior Simon Schoendorf and freshman Luke Magill in its first home game in almost three weeks.  Schoendorf was involved in every score, as he assisted the two goals that he didn’t score himself.

The offense was something that the Wildcats 9-4-0 (4-3-0) were not used to seeing, as the squad had only given up seven goals all year leading up to Friday.

The beginning of the match was alive with both teams penetrating into the others’ territory and creating goal opportunities, mostly off of restarts and corner kicks.  Physical play was also a staple in the match.

Fifteen minutes into the first half, the Bulls’ best scoring opportunity came off of a header by defender Andre Mittoo, who lined up in the box and received a free kick from Anor.  The Plantation, Fla., native sent the ball just high over the crossbar however.

USF capitalized on its next drive at the 21st minutes mark however, as Anor received a right-side cross from Schoendorf in Villanova’s box that the freshman drove past Wildcats’ keeper Jason Friel for his fifth goal of the year.  The feed was the second time this year that Schoendorf has assisted Anor.

Schoendorf, a senior from Karlsruhe, Germany, added his fifth goal of the year goal just two minutes later on a free kick that he blasted past the Wildcats wall and into the upper-right side of the goal. 

“Simon was great for us tonight,” said head coach George Kiefer.  “He’s having an outstanding senior season, is really giving us good leadership, and scored a good goal and got two good assists tonight.”

Despite out-shooting Villanova five-to-one in the first half, the Bulls were forced to play back on their heels in the second half after Anor was sent off the field following his second yellow card on a foul in the 57th minute. 

Anor’s cards were the only ones USF drew; however VU received a total of six yellow cards throughout the night.

Playing with only ten, USF buckled down and kept Villanova at bay, allowing only two shots on goal in the whole match.

The Bulls in fact added their third goal, playing shorthanded, in the 87th minute on a beautiful through pass from Schoendorf that Magill put past Friel from the right side.  The goal was the first of Magill’s career, as the Newtown, Conn., native just made his debut with the team in Tuesday’s 1-1 tie at FAU.

“It was nice to see Luke bury a goal in his first game at home,” Kiefer said.  “Playing down a man in this game is tough, but I think we did a good job of keeping it tight and trying to counter with two or three guys and keep them from getting good looks.”

SF will turn around rather quickly to host DePaul University this Tues., Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.  The Blue Demons currently sit in seventh place in the Red Division with a 6-4-0 (2-3-0) record.

NOTES:  The Bulls saw their point total in BIG EAST play climb to ten with the win.  Keeper Diego Restrepo earned his fifth shutout with Friday’s victory.  The announced attendance of 2,278 is the second-highest regular season crowd at the USF Soccer Stadium, following only the Sept. 21, 2007 match against No. 2 UConn that housed 2,431.

Tickets to all USF home matches are $5 for adults, $3 for youth 16-and-under and $2 for groups of 10 or more.  Season ticket packages are also available.  Call 1-800-GoBulls or visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for details.  Spectators will have the opportunity to get player and coach autographs at the conclusion of every home game down on the field.

Fans can also catch all home games on the USF Press Pass.  Live video and audio streaming is available for all matches played in the USF Soccer Stadium with Jim Henderson delivering the play-by-play call.