Tampa, Florida – With the Rowdies Cup at stake, the University of South Florida (USF) outlasted the University of Tampa (UT) 4-1  in the opening exhibition for both teams in the 2009 fall season.  The winning team gains possession of the 1975 NASL Championship cup that was won by the Tampa Bay Rowdies during the hey-day of the NASL.

In the 5th annual competition between the 2 Tampa based teams, USF has dominated the series winning the first 3 matches while drawing last year 0-0.

Given that practices have just begun, the game was divided into 3 30 minute periods.

Tampa is the 3rd ranked nationally by the NSCAA in division II.  Graduating senior Ryan Maxwell was drafted in the first round by the New England Revolution.

UT controlled much of the first 30 minute period, possessing the ball for much of the time. I was pleasantly surprised with the level of play by Tampa.  But USF played much more assertively in the second and third periods  tallying 4 goals and limiting UT to a single PK goal.

Starting Line-ups

South Florida - 4-5-1, with the outside mids attacking up the wings (sometimes looking like a 4-3-3).

F: Zak Boggs

M: Alessandro Bianchi, Francisco Aristeguieta, Fernando Gonzalez, Sebastien Thuriere, Jorge Mora

D: Javed Mohammed,Tom Markey, Andre Mittoo, Aubrey Petty

G: Jeff Attinella

Tampa – 4-5-1, very similar to USF but the top four keep a more diamond structure.

F: Lister Warren

M: Brian Fekete, Karl Swan, Ryan Griffin, Pascal Milien, Andrej Gulan,

D: Mike Bethel, Kyle Williams, Daniel Bergstrand, Zach Fraser

G: Ryan Thompson

USF Observations:

Although USF went to the NCAA final 8 in 2008, they had problems scoring consistently.  Is scoring 4 goals per game an indication that this issue has been solved for 2009?  I don’t think so, UT ran out of steam and were overwhelmed by a deeper, talented USF squad.

In the 36th minute, sophomore Felipe Liberos scored from 22 yards on a hard shot that GK Ryan Thompson initially stopped but allowed the ball to squirt through his hands.  GK error.  This was Liberos first shot of the season and the first goal of the game.

In the beginning of the third period, senior forward Zak Boggs got behind the UT defense and took a good shot that was only eclipsed by a better save by UT GK Ryan Thompson, conceding a corner kick to USF.

On the corner kick, senior midfielder Alessandro Bianchi served in a perfect corner that NC State transfer senior midfielder Jorge Mora headed in unimpeded from 6 yards in the 62nd minute.  This goal retook the lead.

6 minutes later, Boggs served a long pass from midfield that senior forward (and Tampa resident) Ogi Perucica took off his chest while he bodied off a UT defender before burying a side volley!  Gorgeous goal.

In the 84th minute, Boggs tallied his own goal, taking a pass from sophomore midfielder Brock Jennings, turning in the box and shooting it from 12 yards.

Boggs almost earned another assist flipping a ball to junior midfielder Shawn Chin (transfer from Boston College) that Chin brought down on his chest before volleying it past the on-rushing goal keeper but was denied by the post.  Nice play.

Junior defender Javed Mohammed has an accurate left foot from set pieces.  He blew by the UT right back in the 2nd period, but was unable to deliver an acceptable cross.  Potential – but needs to be more consistent.

Junior goal keeper Jeff Attinella made several key saves in the first period to keep USF in the game.  Pretty solid performance.

Fernando Gonzalez, Alessandro Bianchi and Francisco Aristeguieta weren’t in sync with each other in the first period, amassing a game worth of bad passes in 30 minutes.

Tampa Observations:

Junior AM Pascal Milien is a handful.  Strong (for college) on the ball and as a dynamic attacking force with the ball.  He has good wheels.  He has serious potential.  Watch for him.

On the UT first goal, sophomore midfielder Mike Bethel combined quickly with Milien to get behind the USF defense.  USF freshman defender cleared the ball but came through Milien on the end line that the ref ruled as a PK.  It was a harsh call for USF, but it had followed another close play that UT didn’t get.  Milien converted the PK in the 54th minute for the opening goal for UT.

Sophomore Karl Swan made several deep runs causing havoc.  He stole the ball from junior Andre Mittoo before being dispossessed by the GK Jeff Attinella.