By Joey Johnston
The USF men’s soccer team has yet to win a game — or score a goal — so it has been a bizarre start to a season filled with big-time promise and American Athletic Conference championship dreams.
Naturally, right on cue, here comes perhaps the most challenging back-to-back games in program history.
On Friday night at Corbett Stadium, the Bulls welcome the No. 15-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (2-1-1), a program with eight national championships and a runner-up finish in last season’s College Cup.
On Tuesday night, also at Corbett, it’s the ACC preseason favorite Clemson Tigers (2-1-1) taking on the Bulls. Clemson, which has three national championships on its program resume, will play Saturday at Notre Dame before heading to Tampa.
“Our guys knew this schedule would be unforgiving,’’ head coach Bob Butehorn said. “I think they are realizing all that goes with that. You can tell yourself you’re ready for what needs to be done. But our guys have learned there’s more to it than just talent. It’s execution through those pressure moments in these tough games.’’
The Bulls have dropped three games, all by a 2-0 score.
In the opener at nationally ranked Washington, the Bulls scored first, but the goal was disallowed. “We’re still not sure what the call was,’’ Butehorn said. The Bulls mostly played even with the Huskies, but a higher level was needed for an upset.
Against Seattle, Butehorn said USF has four premium scoring chances. Whether it was lights-out plays by the goalie or point-blank misses from short range, the Bulls couldn’t find the back of the net and left the West Coast believing they deserved a victory.
Against Mercer at home, it was a dud.
Which brings up the Indiana/Clemson home-field double, an assignment that no team would seemingly arrange. The timing wasn’t what Butehorn had in mind either, but a confluence of circumstances led to the glamorous matchups.
Butehorn’s team played at Indiana in his USF debut season of 2017, then at Clemson in 2021. In both cases, a return game in Tampa was part of the arrangement.
“They both owed me a game, then they both decide they want to do it this season,’’ Butehorn said. “I initially wanted to say no, but they both said, ‘We’ve got to come now.’ If you get that window, you take it.
“Most people, when they hear we’ve got Indiana and Clemson coming to Tampa, they’re shocked. I don’t turn down these games. I can’t because you’ll never get them again.’’
In some ways, Butehorn said the powerful competition isn’t the most relevant subject. For the Bulls to turn it around, it’s all about their performance, not the opposition.
“Most of where we are right now has been self-inflicted,’’ Butehorn said. “Look, we are a deep team. We are a talented team. Confidence can be a funny thing sometimes. It can come and go very quickly.
“The thing I like about our group is they are trying so hard to apply the work needed. It’s my feeling they just need to continue to push their limits and their standards. I said to my assistants, we just need to write who’s in there on the board. It’s more about us right now. As we go along, we’ll figure out if we need to change things, whether it’s a formation, some adjustments to the lineup, whatever it might be.’’
The ironic thing about USF’s scoreless start is the 2022 season began in almost identical fashion — no goals in the first four games — but the Bulls rallied to make the AAC Tournament championship game and earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
The Bulls still believe they can reach their goals in the AAC. Large crowds and elite competition might help to jump-start some success.
“We like the challenge of our schedule,’’ Bulls junior center back Nicolas Scargle said. “We want the crowds and excitement to be there every game. When you play the great teams, sure it’s a big challenge, but it’s also a big opportunity.’’
And that’s another benefit, Butehorn said. He feels an obligation to promote and sell the sport of men’s soccer in Tampa. What better way than to play the likes of Indiana and Clemson.
“Our guys know the way we do things and they know we have talent,’’ Butehorn said. “It’s just about sticking your nose back in there and trying to overcome. I feel like we’ll get to a solution by continuing to work and believe.
“I don’t yet know what our level is, so my feeling is we’ve got to get our A-game. I do think we will put on a good show. You play these type of games because our guys can say, ‘Hey, we played the best and we pushed ourselves.’ It’s going to be great soccer — free-flowing ideas, creativity, very fast. And if we get a (favorable) result, it’s a memory that we’ll have forever.’’
TICKETS
Fans can purchase men’s soccer tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
WATCH THE BULLS
All of South Florida’s home regular season matches will once again be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
Matches will also be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search “Bulls Unlimited”) and provides static-free quality whether you’re listening on your streaming device, laptop, or desktop.
ABOUT USF MEN’S SOCCER
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Men’s Soccer news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
USF Men’s Soccer competed in the school’s first-ever intercollegiate athletic contest on Sept. 25, 1965, beating Florida Southern 4-3. Since then, the oldest program on campus has built a winning tradition, claiming 14 conference championships and making 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 30 MLS draft picks. Notable alumni include two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, USA 1994 World Cup star Roy Wegerle, and 2013 MLS Cup winner Dom Dwyer. Men’s Soccer has two Alumni in the USF Athletics Hall of Fame: Fergus Hopper and Dan Holcomb, with Jeff Attinella joining as part of the 2023 class.
The Bulls have reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times over the past 22 seasons.
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