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Sunday, October 27, 2002
Gil's Golden Goal lifts
FIU to win over USF
 scar Gil's Golden Goal in the 96th minute
propelled FIU to a 3-2 victory over South Florida today at University
Park.
Gil's blast from the left side
of the penalty box found the upper-right corner of the net, capping
a streak of three unanswered scores which helped FIU erase a
two-goal, second-half deficit and extended the Golden Panthers'
unbeaten streak to nine.
Things did not start out well
for FIU, as the Bulls scored first when Gabriel Salgado threaded
a cross from the left endline to the mouth of the goal which
met a racing Hunter West who, in turn, slid the ball to the back
of the net in the 26th minute for his 11th score of the year.
USF continued to dominate the remainder of the first half and
the opening of the second period as West returned the favor when
he passed the ball to Salgado, who placed the ball through the
hands of FIU goalkeeper Roy Rosenberg in the 51st minute.
The tide turned in the 66th minute
as USF's Brandon Streicher picked up a red card for a flagrant
foul, forcing the Bulls to play out the contest with 10 players.
From that point on, the Golden
Panthers pounced on the outmanned Bulls. Juan Rivera opened the
FIU scoring in the 68th minute when he sent a 30-yard blast past
the USF defense and into the back of the net. Billy Boswell equaled
the game in the 83rd minute when he took a throw-in from Gil
and nailed it into the back of the net.
Neither team was able to score
in the remainder of regulation, setting the stage for Gil's heroics
in overtime.
Despite the five goals that were
scored, both goalkeepers had solid outings. USF's Troy Perkins
collected 13 saves while FIU's Rosenberg recorded eight.
Gil's sudden-victory score was
his second of the year. He also netted the overtime game-winner
against then-No. 22 Columbia on Sept. 27.
FIU improves to 8-4-1 on the
year while USF drops to 9-5-0.
The Golden Panthers return to
Atlantic Soccer Conference action when they host Adelphi on Friday,
Nov. 1, at 7:00 p.m. at University Park. The Bulls travel to
Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB at 5:30 p.m. (CST).
Friday's game will be broadcast
on Radiate 88, FIU's student radio station. The game can be heard
on 88.1 FM in Miami or on the Internet at http://wrgp.fiu.edu/sports. |