Senior Bryan Burke Scores Game-Winner in Final Match in the Green and Gold
(Los Angeles) – USF closed out the regular season on the road at league-leading Loyola Marymount and seized a 1-0 shutout triumph denying the hosts a chance at claiming the first West Coast Conference title in the process on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The Dons (4-12-3, 2-8-2 WCC) salvage a season series split against the Lions (12-6-2, 8-3-1 WCC) and avenge an earlier 1-0 setback at Negoesco Stadium.
Playing in his final match in the Green and Gold, senior forward Bryan Burke picked a perfect time to cap his collegiate career, finding the back of the net in the 87th minute for his second goal in three matches. The two-time All-WCC Second Team selection finishes his career with six goals, 13 assists and 25 points. Freshman midfielder Vegard Karlsen provided the assist, his second of the year.
"I'm very pleased with our performance against a league-leader in LMU," USF head coach Erik Visser said. "We played very focused and organized against a very good team. It's a nice way for the seniors to go out on a high note. We feel this will give us the momentum for a young group to build for the next three years. Our hats are off to LMU. They are very good team and deserve an NCAA bid."
San Francisco was solid defensively and stymied the top offense in the WCC for 90 minutes and shut out the Lions for just the second time in 2010. LMU held a 17-11 shots advantage, led by six from senior Lions' All-American candidate Rafael Baca. Burke, Karlsen, senior forward Jeff Penna and sophomore midfielder Samir Najmeh each recorded a pair for the Dons.
Sophomore goalkeeper Brendan Roslund was big for the Dons in goal, collecting five saves to secure his third shutout of the season. It was the sixth career sheeting turned in by the Colorado native. LMU's Jack McCormack suffered the loss and made a pair of saves in the setback.
"Although this was a very disappointing season for us, I am proud of the effort they put forth," Visser said. "This team had many reasons to give up but they never did. They continued to battle and worked hard every day."
NOTES: USF opened the 2010 season with a home shutout win against No. 9 Northwestern and close the season with a 1-0 road shutout at Loyola Marymount… it was USF's first win at Sullivan Field since a 2-1 win in 2007… the Dons and Lions have split the season series each of the last three years… seniors Burke, Victor Cortez, Rafai Eddy, Penna each started in their final collegiate match.
