USF Men's Soccer Takes on Michigan to Open the 2012 Season

Time to go to work (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

Regular season soccer has returned for the Bulls.  After two exhibition games against Jacksonville and UT, the Bulls take Corbett Field for the first regular season game (game begins at 7PM and will be aired on Fox Sports Soccer Channel).  

After going 13-4-4 (7-0-2), a Big East Red Division title and an Elite 8 run in the postseason, Coach Kiefer and the 5th ranked Bulls will be looking to get off to a strong start in 2012 but will have to get through Big Blue to do so.  Michigan went 5-14-1 (1-5-0) last season and were just 3-6 away last season but had a very young team and will be looking to get off to a strong start at the Bulls expense.

Michigan lost top goal scorer from last season in Fabio Pereira who scored 4 goals and added 5 assists last season, but they do return solid players.  

Senior midfielder Etienne Lussiez (6-0 175-pounds) who scored 4 goals (8 SOG) and added 1 assist last season.  The Wolverines will be looking to him to be the big time scorer for them this season.  Junior forward Ezekiel Harris (5-10 160-pounds) scored 3 goals (9 SOG) and added 1 assist last season and will be a striker on the corners.  Senior midfielder Latif Alashe (6-0 165-pounds) added 2 goals (7 SOG) and 3 assists last season.  Senior defender Kofi Opare (6-2 187-pounds) scored 2 goals (9 SOG) and added an assist coming up from the back defensive line to help attack.  Sophomore forward (6-0 168-pounds0 added a goal and 2 assists last season as well to round out the scoring attack for Michigan.  

In the net, Michigan returns sophomore Adam Grinwis (6-1 165-pounds) who allowed 30 goals last season (1.62 per game) and made 61 saves last season.  The Michigan defensive backline was strong and Grinwis had a solid year in the net for a freshman, but the USF offensive attack in loaded again this year.  With Lucas Baldin, Wesley Charpie, and Leston Paul returning, they will help lead the attack.  Newcomer Samuel Hosseini and Edwin Moalosi will be huge factors as well and should be aggressive early and often in this game.

USF is the more experienced team and with all the talent they returned from last year's squad and the newcomers they should be able to dictate the pace of the game with their speed and great athletes on the field.  As long as Eric Osswald, who has looked good in net in the first two games in the exhibition rounds, continues to hold down and communicate with the back defensive line, the Bulls should notch win number of the season.