After a road loss last week, the USF men’s soccer team hoped to get back in the win column for their final non-conference match of the season. However, the Dons ultimately fell Sept. 22 to the University of California, Davis Aggies by a score of 1-4.
The Aggies had no trouble finding the back of the net as the opposition scored three goals within the first 30 minutes of the contest. The Dons responded with their one and only goal in the 36th minute when freshman forward Nonso Adimabua was assisted on an attacking play by freshman midfielder Ferdy Ghafury.
There was no time for celebrations as the Aggies scored their fourth goal within the same minute as Adimabua’s strike. USF had no answers for the Aggies’ defense, and they went into halftime trailing their opposition by three goals.
The Dons spent the second half attacking the goal and outshooting the Aggies 9-2 in the final 45 minutes of regulation. However, the Aggies kept USF off the board and held their three-point lead until the final whistle.
Adimabua was a bright spot in the Dons’ defeat, scoring his team-leading third goal of the season. At the time of writing, he is currently tied for fourth in the West Coast Conference (WCC) for most goals scored. Ghafury tallied his first collegiate assist and point by assisting Adimabua in the 36th minute of regular time. Defensively, freshman Brandon Keniston made his first start as goalkeeper this season and tallied seven saves in 90 minutes of play.
USF begins WCC play Oct. 2 with a fixture against the Santa Clara University Broncos.
