Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
On Monday night at Corbett Soccer Stadium, the men’s soccer team from the University of South Florida prevailed 2-1 over University of California, Irvine.
The Bulls improved their season record to 2-1-3 with this victory, which was highlighted by important goals and a strong defensive effort.
Before the match began, USF took the time to honor those who served in a ‘Salute to Service’ ceremony before and after the National Anthem. Marine Corps and military personnel led the ceremony with flags saluting the crowd.
After the ceremony, the match started with a burst of energy from USF.
With help from forward John Adekunle, Gunnar Studenhofft (who is another forward) scored his second goal of the season just under four minutes into the contest.
However, UC Irvine responded with persistence.
Forward, Agaton Pourshahidi made the playing field even for the Anteaters by scoring the team’s first goal.
Both teams were fighting for dominance as the second half began. Although UC Irvine was able to exert offensive pressure, USF made the winning play.
With a timely strike, midfielder Marcelo Mondragon scored his first goal of the season to secure the victory. He was assisted by defenders, Issah Hamidu and Jemone Barclay.
The Bulls’ defense, led by a solid performance from Felix Schaefer in goal and disciplined backline play, successfully stifled UC Irvine’s attempts to level the score again. Despite a surge of late-game pressure from the Anteaters, USF held their ground to secure the win.
USF outshot UC Irvine 15– eight, making eight of their shots on goal to the Anteaters’ 3 missed. In terms of corner kicks, the Bulls held a minor advantage (four to UC Irvine’s three).
Coach Bob Butehorn gave the team high praise for their performance after the game, applauding Gunnar Studenhofft in particular for his speed and agility, which has proven to be an important asset for the Bulls.
“Gunnar has been exceptional, and his pace causes significant problems for opponents,” Bob noted. He also expressed satisfaction with the team’s defensive management and the ability to create scoring opportunities.
Bob underlined how crucial this victory is to boosting morale and creating a positive atmosphere for the remainder of the season. He highlighted the depth of the team and the efforts of players who stepped up big at crucial times, such as Mondragon’s goal.
The Bull’s next game will be against the Knights at the University of Central Florida, on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. Fans can watch in person at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex or on ESPN+ from home.
