Bulls look for their second win of 2019 when they face the nationally ranked Cardinals
TAMPA (SEPT. 8, 2019) – The USF men’s soccer team returns to Corbett Stadium on Monday night, Sept. 9, to close out its short two match homestand when it hosts the nationally ranked Louisville Cardinals. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. The Bulls look for their second win of the 2019 season after an impressive 2-1 win over Marquette on Friday. Monday marks the second of two matches that USF will play in a four-day stretch at home.
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USF BULLS (1-1)
Last Game: Sept. 6 vs. Marquette, W, 2-1
Next Game: Sept. 13 at Lipscomb, 8 p.m.
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 144-114-34 (17th season)
At USF: 14-16-6 (Third season)
RV/NO. 8 LOUISVILLE (2-0-1)
Last Game: Sept. 6 at Florida Atlantic, W, 3-0
Next Game: Sept. 13 at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: John Michael Hayden
Career Record: 2-0-1 (First season)
At Louisville: Same (First season)
QUICK HITS
– Monday’s home match against Louisville is the second of four at Corbett Stadium that USF will play during the month of September out of six total contests, and the second straight … After Monday, the Bulls will also face Ohio State (Sept. 17) and AAC foe UConn (Sept. 27) in their conference-opener … All home matches start at 7 p.m. … USF will face Lipscomb (Sept. 13, 8 p.m. ET) and North Florida (Sept. 24, 7 p.m.) on the road during the month.
– USF comes into its matchup against Louisville leading the all-time series, 14-7-4, including an 8-3-3 record against the Cardinals in Tampa … The Bulls and Louisville met each season from 1992-2013 as members of the Metro Conference, Conference USA and the BIG EAST Conference, and once in 2017 as non-conference foes.
– USF made up for its lack of shot production against Maryland in the win over Marquette … The Bulls could only muster two shots in the loss to the Terrapins, however regrouped against the Golden Eagles to fire off 26 shots … Despite not scoring a goal, Stephen Rudderham led the team in shots with six, while Adrian Billhardt, Avionne Flanagan and Trey Jackson all added four … One of Jackson’s four shots proved to be the game-winner, coming in the 82’.
– Victor Claudel netted his first career goal for the Bulls getting USF on the board first in the 10’ of play … Henrique Gallina and Jonathan Rosales each added assists in the win over Marquette.
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
– Louisville comes into its match with USF with a 2-0-1 record following a 3-0 win over Florida Atlantic on Friday night in Boca Raton … UofL has also tied Cleveland State (2-2) and defeated Kentucky (3-0) before its win over FAU.
– Louka Masset, Cherif Dieye and Izaiah Jennings all recorded goals against the Owls on Friday night
– Dieye leads Louisville in scoring with five points (2g, 1a) while Masset is a close second with four points (2g) … Emil Elveroth has recorded three points (1g, 1a) … Jennings and Cody Cochran have also tallied one goal on the year.
– Jake Gelnovatch has played all three matches in goal for the Cardinals making 10 total saves – and has posted an .833 save percentage – while also recording two clean sheets in his last two games.
THE SERIES VS. THE CARDINALS
– USF and Louisville have met 25 times prior to Monday’s meeting, with the Bulls holding a 14-7-4 series lead … USF and Louisville met each season, from 1992-2013, as members of the Metro Conference, Conference USA and the BIG EAST Conference, and once in 2017 as non-conference foes.
– USF is 0-1-2 in its last three meetings against the Cardinals … The Bulls dominated the early series with UofL logging a 10-2 record through their first 12 matches, however, since then USF is just 4-5-4 … The Bulls hold a 55-28 scoring advantage.
LAST TIME OUT
– Trey Jackson scored the game-winner and Victor Claudel netted his first career goal, as USF notched its first win of 2019 with a 2-1 victory over Marquette on Sept. 6 … Despite the one goal advantage, USF dominated the match on both ends, outshooting Marquette 26-9 while not giving the Golden Eagles many chances on their offensive end of the pitch.
– Claudel tallied the first goal of the year for the Bulls in the 10’ when he took a pass from Henrique Gallina and beat the Marquette defender, giving USF a 1-0 edge … It wouldn’t be until the 79’ that the Golden Eagles tied the game at one-all, however it didn’t take Jackson long to put the Bulls back on top beating Weyman, from five yards out, in the 82’ off a pass from Jonathan Rosales for the winner.
BULLS CLOSE PRESEASON WITH 3-0 EXHIBITION RECORD
– USF closed out its 2019 preseason schedule with a 3-0 record, capped off by a 1-0 win over the University of Tampa in the 41st annual Rowdies Cup at Corbett Stadium on Aug. 24 … Freshman forward Victor Claudel netted the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 85’.
– The Bulls also defeated Eastern Florida State College (2-0) on Aug. 17 and Eckerd College (1-0) on Aug. 21 in their first two exhibition matches.
BILLHARDT & FLANAGAN EARN PRESEASON AAC HONORS
– USF men’s soccer standouts Avionne Flanagan and Adrian Billhardt and have been named to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Preseason All-Conference Team.
– Flanagan finished 2018 with Second Team All-AAC honors … He played in all 17 matches for the Bulls and started in 16 … He scored two goals on the year off 15 shots … His goal against Florida Atlantic marked his first game-winner and was a crucial turning point for USF, which posted a 3-1-2 record in its next six matches.
– Billhardt earned preseason all-conference honors after recording four points on four assists in 2018 … A great technical player, he is creative and extremely dangerous one-on-one with a big left foot … Billhardt was also recognized during his freshman season, in 2017, when he was named First Team All-AAC and to the All-Rookie Team.
BULLS TABBED FOURTH IN AAC PRESEASON POLL
– USF was voted by the league’s head coaches to finish fourth in this year’s preseason American Athletic Conference Coaches poll … The Bulls trail only UCF, SMU and UConn … Temple, Memphis, Tulsa and Cincinnati round out the bottom four.
UP NEXT
Following Monday’s match, USF will hit the road and travel to Nashville, Tenn., where it faces Lipscomb on Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET … The meeting with the Bison is the first of just two matches that USF will play on the road during the month of September … The Bulls will also travel to Jacksonville to face North Florida on Sept. 24 … USF returns home to Corbett Stadium on Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., to face Ohio State.
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