Saturday, October 26
Tampa, Fla.
6 p.m.
Tulsa
2
at
1
South Florida
Late Goal by Vargas Pushes Tulsa to 2-1 Win at South Florida
10/26/2024 9:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
TAMPA, Fla. — An 87th-minute goal by senior midfielder Camilo Vargas broke the late-game deadlock to secure the 2-1 victory for the Tulsa men's soccer team over the South Florida Bulls (5-5-4, 3-3-0 AAC) Saturday night in Tampa. The Golden Hurricane (3-8-3 overall) rose to fifth place in American Athletic Conference standings at 2-3-1 and controls its path to the AAC Championship with one more game on the regular-season schedule.
Junior defender Wes Bottenburg scored the opening goal for Tulsa late in the first half within the 36th minute. After a South Florida goal in the 58th minute, the game looked to end in a draw as neither team could snap the tie until a wild play resulting from five mid-air deflections led to the late game-winner by Vargas to seal the deal for the Hurricane.
Each team had five shots on goal, with USF finishing with 11 total and TU having nine. The Bulls finished with 10 corner kicks to Tulsa's two.
"I thought we started the game very well," Head Coach Tom McIntosh said. "We had good control and possessed the ball well in the first half. It was an excellent free kick, the service by Alvaro [Torrijos] and Wes [Bottenburg] was tremendous. The game got a little open and we took some pressure in the second half. Credit to the guys for not giving in when they tied it up. What a tremendous last goal by Camilo as well. Our subs tonight were excellent tonight and that was a big difference in the game."
The Tulsa men will wrap up the regular season at home against Temple (4-6-5, 1-2-3 AAC) on Senior Night Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.
How it Happened
Tulsa struck first early in the 36th minute when D Wes Bottenburg sent the ball on a header into the net off a well-placed free kick by Alvaro Torrijos. The free kick resulted from a yellow card by USF's Tyler Richardson committed just outside the opposing penalty area. Bottenburg's head of steel sent the ball through the middle right of the net so quickly that the goalkeeper had no time to react.
Tulsa led at halftime, 1-0. It was the first time all season TU had control of a game through 45 minutes of play. The Hurricane's offense had the statistical edge at the break as they had five shots with three on goal while the Bulls had shot the ball only twice, once towards the net.
South Florida ended up tying the game at one goal apiece when John Adekunle scored in the 58th minute within Alex Lopez's goalkeeper area.
The game looked to finish in another 1-1 draw for Tulsa until a wild goal by Tulsa occurred in the 87th minute. Lopez sent the ball deep into South Florida territory where it ricocheted off four different players until it fell into the lap of M Camilo Vargas, who rocketed the ball into the net for the game-winning score. South Florida had no time to mount a comeback as Tulsa escaped with the 2-1 victory.
Game Notes
- Tulsa's victory moves the overall series to 9-3-3 in favor of South Florida.
- D Wes Bottenburg scored his second goal of the season and fifth of his career.
- M Camilo Vargas recorded his team-leading fourth goal on the year and fourth of his career.
- Tulsa rose to fifth in conference standings. A home win against Temple in the regular season finale next will secure a spot in the AAC Championship for TU.
- Vargas was credited with the game-winner, his second of the year after pushing Tulsa to a 2-1 home victory over Florida Atlantic (10/4).
- Each team had five shots on goal, with USF finishing with 11 total and TU had nine.
- South Florida finished with 10 corner kicks to Tulsa's two.
- Alex Lopez got the start in goal and earned his second victory of the year.
- Tulsa led at halftime (up 1-0) for the first time all season … it was also the third game of the season TU scored first.
Scoring Summary
Tulsa 1 1 - 2
South Florida 0 1 - 1
Individual Scoring
Wes Bottenburg (Tulsa) at 35:09 (Alvaro Torrijos)
John Adekunle (South Florida) at 57:54 (Lovro Kostanjsek)
Camilo Vargas (Tulsa) at 86:32 (Unassisted)
Saves
Alex Lopez (Tulsa) – 4
Felix Schaefer (South Florida) – 3
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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