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TAMPA, Fla. --- The South Florida Bulls scored two second-half goals to overcome the Portland Pilots 2-0 on a on a hot and muggy Sunday afternoon at Corbett Stadium. Portland (1-1-2) freshman goalkeeper Paul Christensen had another solid day in goal, making six saves.
 
Freshman forward Brandon Zambrano provided the best opportunity for the Pilots in the first half, when he turned and dribbled at the USF (2-1-0) goal in the 23rd minute. Zambrano pulled up for a shot at the top of the 18 and hit a driven ball along the ground that sent USF goalkeeper Spasoje Stefanovic diving to his left. The shot went just wide and the score remained tied at 0-0.
 
The Pilots were strong defensively in the first half and held off the Bull offense. Christensen recorded three saves during the first 45 minutes and made a big play when he came off of his line to intercept a long ball that dropped just above the penalty spot in the 30th minute.
 
The second half brought more offensive pressure from both the Pilots and the Bulls. In the 46th minute Portland was able to clear the ball out danger after a scramble in their goalmouth. Four minutes later at the other end of the field, junior defender Hugo Rhoads threw the ball into the box and senior forward Steven Corbett deflected the ball toward the USF goal, but the Bull defense was able to clear the ball out for a corner.
 
Then n the 63rd minute USF earned a free kick just outside the Pilots' penalty area. Christensen made a tough diving save off of the initial shot, but the rebound landed at the foot of USF forward Kennedy Adablah who kicked the ball into the back of the Portland to hand the Bulls a 1-0 advantage.
 
Portland responded by creating multiple chances and keeping the pressure up. In the 72nd minute freshman forward Erik Edwardson used some nifty footwork to free himself and get a shot off at the top of the USF 18. Senior defender Matt Liberator did well to get endline in the 74th minute and drive a ball toward a cutting Zambrano, but a USF defender slid in to cut the cross off and knock the ball out for a corner. A flurry of shots came in the 84th minute for the Pilots, but the Bulls did well to block them before the play ended on a Portland offside call.
 
And then with 57 seconds to go in regulation and the Pilots pushing for the equalizer, USF got in behind the Portland defense and USF midfielder Lucas Baldin earned the second goal of the game for the Bulls.
 
The Pilots next return home from long trip to host Duquesne on Friday at 2 p.m. at Merlo Field.