TAMPA, Fla. - South Florida (6-0-5) continued their unbeaten run with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Stetson (4-5-1) in non-conference action on Tuesday evening. The Bulls extended their winning streak to three matches while handing the Hatters their first loss in three games.
Fabio Bozesan opened the scoring for South Florida in the 7th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Cade Erickson. Jakob Auby doubled the Bulls' advantage in the 19th minute with Tyler Richardson providing the setup. The hosts extended their lead to 3-0 after halftime when Mathis Haugen found the net in the 46th minute, again assisted by Richardson.
The first half belonged to South Florida, who dominated possession and created multiple dangerous opportunities. The Bulls' aggressive pressing forced several Stetson turnovers, leading to Bozesan's early strike. The Hatters struggled to maintain possession in the opening period, with Benjamin Donato receiving a yellow card in the 32nd minute for an unsporting challenge. Stetson goalkeeper NicolΓ² Radaelli made two crucial saves to prevent the deficit from growing larger.
Stetson mounted an impressive comeback attempt in the second half. Zsombor Pall breathed life into the Hatters' hopes with a goal in the 60th minute, assisted by Mauricio Restrepo. Restrepo then turned scorer himself, finding the net in the 70th minute to bring Stetson within one. The final twenty minutes saw intense pressure from the Hatters, who earned four corner kicks in their pursuit of an equalizer.
The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of the contest. South Florida outshot Stetson 8-6, putting six attempts on target compared to the Hatters' three. Stetson held a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks. The physical match saw six yellow cards distributed, with Stetson receiving four and South Florida two. Bulls goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham recorded three saves, while Radaelli made one stop for the Hatters.
Tyler Richardson proved instrumental for South Florida, providing two assists while controlling the midfield. Mauricio Restrepo stood out for Stetson with a goal and an assist in their second-half resurgence. Fabio Bozesan's early goal and overall attacking presence caused consistent problems for the Hatters' defense.
Both teams demonstrated tactical flexibility throughout the match. South Florida's high-pressing system proved effective early, but Stetson's adjustment to a more direct attacking approach in the second half nearly produced a comeback. The Bulls' decision to introduce fresh legs, including Yanis Lasri and Fabian Hilpert in the latter stages, helped them maintain their advantage.
The victory maintains South Florida's impressive unbeaten start to the season, while Stetson showed remarkable resilience despite seeing their three-match unbeaten streak end. The Hatters' second-half performance, particularly the link-up play between Pall and Restrepo, provides encouraging signs for their upcoming matches.
South Florida's defensive organization in the final minutes proved crucial, withstanding Stetson's late surge that included multiple set-piece opportunities. The Bulls' ability to manage the game's closing stages demonstrated the experience and composure that has defined their successful campaign. South Florida will look to extend their winning streak when they visit FIU on October 12, while Stetson aims to bounce back at North Florida on October 11.