TAMPA, FLA. – Georgia Southern played an outstanding opening 45 minutes, but allowed three second-half goals to fall 3-0 at No. 22 USF on Wednesday night. The Eagles stymied the Bulls in the opening half behind six saves from goalkeeper Jack Falle. The Eagles travel to face Stetson next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

"We defended really well and had some great chacnes early," said Head Coach Kevin Kennedy. "In the second half we lost the mark on a set piece to give up the first goal, and then they got another one two minutes later. From there we had to chase the game and we gave up another goal on the counter."

The Eagles' (4-4) had a pair of golden opportunities in the 10th minute when Jeremy Rector attempted to put his name on the scoresheet. A positive build-up through the middle of the park gave Rector the ball in space just yards from goal. His first attempt cracked off the crossbar and came back to the native of Duluth, Ga. He gathered and took another shot which went inches wide of the post for a goal kick.

South Florida (5-3) got the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute off a header from Eduardo Maceira. He directed a corner kick from Lucas Baldwin in to the net for his second goal for the season.

The Bulls got their second goal just 2:15 later when Tyler Blackwood beat the Eagle goalkeeper from six yards 1v1 in the box. Edwin Moalosi assisted on the goal to put the home side up 2-0.

USF's Baldwin put the ball in the net in the 66th minute, but the goal was disallowed by a USF foul in the box as the shot was taken. The Bulls, however, got their third goal in the 74th minute when Moalosi scored off a counterattack in the box.

Falle recorded seven saves on the night as the Eagle offense posted four shots with two coming from Rector. It was the second-straight match the Eagles have been held scoreless after posting 13 goals in the previous three matches.

Next up for the Eagles is a trip to Stetson next Tuesday for the last of four-straight road games. The game against the Hatters starts at 7 p.m. in DeLand.

Georgia Southern will host the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Championships on November 13-16, 2014 from Eagle Field in Statesboro. The league's teams will convene in Statesboro with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Make plans to be at the friendly confines for all the action. 

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.