Friday marks the first of two home matches in four days for the Bulls; face Louisville on Monday
TAMPA (SEPT. 5, 2019) – After dropping its season opener, 1-0, to the defending NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked team in the country, Maryland Terrapins, on Aug. 29 in College Park, Md., USF returns to the pitch a week later for its home opener against Marquette on Friday, Sept. 6. The Bulls look for their first win of the season when they butt heads with the Golden Eagles at 7 p.m. at Corbett Stadium. Friday will mark the first of two matches that USF will play in a four-day stretch at home. They will return to Corbett on Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. to face Louisville.
USF Match Notes | Marquette Match Notes | Listen Live on Bulls Unlimited
USF BULLS (0-1)
Last Game: Aug. 29 at No. 1 Maryland, L, 1-0
Next Game: Sept. 9 vs. RV Louisville, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 142-114-34 (17th season)
At USF: 13-16-6 (Third season)
MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES (1-0-1)
Last Game: Sept. 1 vs. UC Davis, T, 0-0 (2ot)
Next Game: Sept. 13 vs. Northern Illinois, 8:05 p.m.
Head Coach: Louis Bennett
Career Record: 219-181-54 (24th season)
At Marquette: 84-117-37 (14th season)
QUICK HITS
– A win against Marquette would improve USF’s all-time record in home-opening matches to 38-13-5 … The Bulls are 2-2-1 in their last five home-openers and are 5-3-2 in their last 10.
– Friday’s home match against Marquette is the first of four at Corbett Stadium that USF will play during the month of September out of six total contests, and the first of two straight … The Bulls will also host Louisville (Sept. 9), 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.
– With the loss of leading scorer Alex Zis (21 pts., 6g, 9a), who transferred, and senior second-leading scorer Tomasz Skublak (17 pts, 8g, 1a) to graduation, Emilio Ycaza is the team’s top returning offensive player from last season, netting nine points (3g, 3a) … Ycaza was third on the team in points, goals and assists in 2018.
– Harrison Devenish-Meares returns in net for the Bulls after logging a 7-7-2 record in 2018 with 64 saves in 16 games … He posted a 1.55 goals-against-average … Devenish-Meares finished 2018 second in the AAC in saves and in saves-per-game (4.0).
SCOUTING MARQUETTE
– Marquette comes into its match with USF with a 1-0-1 record following a 2-1 season-opening overtime win against UAB on Aug. 30 and a 0-0 double overtime draw against UC Davis on Sept. 1.
– Connor Alba leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with three points (1g, 1a) … Manuel Cukaj has recorded two points (1g) … Cukaj’s lone goal was the game-winner in Marquette’s win over UAB.
THE SERIES VS. MARQUETTE
– USF and Marquette have met 15 times prior to Friday’s meeting, with the Bulls holding a 9-5-1 series lead … The two sides meet annually from 1995-2009 as members of Conference USA.
– USF is 2-0-1 in its last three meetings against the Golden Eagles … All-time the Bulls hold a 27-19 scoring advantage against Marquette.
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.
ROOKIES MAZZAFERRO & CLAUDEL EARN FIRST CAREER STARTS
– Freshmen Salvatore Mazzaferro and Victor Claudel earned their first career starts on Aug. 29 in USF’s season opener at then No. 1 Maryland … Mazzaferro played the complete 90 minutes while Claudel logged 72 minutes of time … Although the defender from Caledon East, Ontario did not record a shot, Mazzaferro was a factor in the game defensively helping to hold the defending national champs without a goal for 70 minutes.
– Claudel gave the Bulls an opportunity in the 66’ when he made his way into the 18 and served the ball in front of the goal where Stephen Rudderham waited looking to put USF on the board … Claudel’s offering, however, was just over Rudderham’s head.
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
USF returns to Corbett Stadium on Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., when it hosts Louisville in its second straight home match … UofL is receiving votes in this week’s United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and is ranked No. 8 in the Topdrawersoccer.com Top 25 … The meeting against the Cardinals is the second of four home contests to be played at Corbett Stadium during the month of September.
To purchase tickets for USF men’s soccer, or to purchase an Olympic Gold Pass which provides entry to all men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball home contests in 2019, visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GO-BULLS.
– #GoBulls –
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Men’s Soccer news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
