The Bulls enter the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time in program history on Thursday.
TAMPA (Nov. 20, 2019) – USF enters the NCAA tournament for the 21st time in program history. The Bulls will travel to Louisville, Kentucky to face the Cardinals for the second time this season. Kickoff at the Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. Fans that can’t make it to Louisville can watch live on the ACC Network (subscription required). The winner of the match will face No. 14 UC Davis in California in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 4 p.m (EST).
USF BULLS | 11-6-1*
Last Game: Nov. 13 vs. No. 3 SMU, L, 1-2 (2 OT)
Next Game: Nov. 24 vs. No. 14 UC Davis (if necessary)
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 153-115-35 (17th season)
At USF: 23-20-7 (Third season)
* USF records include a 2-1 win over Tulsa that counts towards AAC standings but is not recognized by the NCAA
LOUISVILLE | 8-7-2
Last Game: Nov. 6 vs. Virginia Tech, L, 0-2
Next Game: Nov. 24 vs. No. 14 UC Davis (if necessary)
Head Coach: Ken Lolla
Career Record: 364-161-67 (29th season)
At Louisville: 155-77-39 (13th season)
USF NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The University of South Florida men’s soccer team (11-6-1*; 4-3 AAC*) earned the program’s 21st NCAA tournament invitation on Monday and the program’s first since the 2016 season. This will mark USF’s 12th NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001, including a string of seven straight appearances between 2007-13. The Bulls made their first appearance in 1969. USF last advanced out of the first round in 2012, reaching the second round. The Bulls reached the NCAA tournament Elite Eight in 2011, the third Elite Eight appearance in program history (2011, 2008, 1997).
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
– Louisville heads into the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year. The Cardinals enter with an 8-7-2 overall record.
– Cherif Dieye leads Louisville with 17 points (6g, 5a), while Kino Ryosuke and Louka Masset are second in scoring with eight points (3g, 2a).
THE SERIES VS. THE CARDINALS
– USF and Louisville have met 26 times prior to Thursday evening, with the Bulls leading the all-time series, 15-7-4. The Bulls were able to increase their series lead with a 2-0 win over the No. 5 Cardinals on Sept. 9 in Tampa.
– The two schools played to a 1-1 double overtime draw in 2017 in Louisville.
LAST TIME OUT
– The University of South Florida men’s soccer team took SMU, one of the top teams in collegiate soccer, to the brink of defeat in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championships.
– After the Mustangs started the scoring off early, in the 14th minute, USF seemed to have the upper hand offensively despite not seeing the result on the scoreboard. The Bulls held a 7-2 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes, and more impressively, held No. 3 SMU, second in the nation in scoring (3.44 goals per game) and third in shots per game (8.38), to its two offerings.
-USF had several chances to get on the board but continued to be unlucky until the Bulls got fouled in the 18 in the 76th minute, leading to a penalty kick. Adrian Billhardt (Berlin, Germany) stepped up, taking his second PK of the season, and beat SMU goalkeeper Grant Makela with the equalizer. Six minutes later, USF dodged a huge bullet when the Bulls were called for a foul in the box leading to a penalty kick for the Mustangs. SMU’s Gabriel Costa, the team’s fourth leading scorer, stepped to the spot, stutter-stepped and proceeded to send the ball wide right, keeping the game tied as regulation time eventually ran out.
-In the extra sessions the Mustangs played the aggressor getting five shots off before Brandon Terwedge’s winner.
FOUR EARN AAC HONORS
– USF is well represented on The American postseason All-Conference Team with four players earning honors … Highlighting the Bulls’ honorees were first team selections Avionne Flanagan (Baltimore, Md.) and Javain Brown (Kingston, Jamaica), and Billhardt who was tabbed a second team selection … In addition, Brown along with Salvatore Mazzaferro (Ontario, Canada) were named to the AAC All-Rookie Team.
– Flanagan is third on the team in scoring with nine points (1g, 7a) … He recorded two assists in USF’s 2-0 win over No. 5 Louisville and logged his only goal of the season, to date, against Jacksonville in a 4-1 win … On defensive, Flanagan helped the back line that allowed only 1.09 goals per game on the year, which is second in The American … Flanagan and his defensive teammates also assisted in the Bulls posting five clean sheets in the season.
– Brown enters the tournament with seven points (3g, 1a) … His three goals are tied for third on the team … Defensively, he has been a leader on the back line making several crucial plays throughout the season … Brown has started every game in 2019.
– Billhardt leads the Bulls in scoring with 13 points (6g, 1), and his six goals are tops on the team … He has recorded all six of his goals in the last six games – including four goals in the last three games – after not scoring a goal in the first 11 games of the season.
– Mazzaferro has also helped Flanagan and Brown to form one of the stingiest defenses in The American, with their tough physical play. One of the top defensive freshmen in the conference, the Canadian native has started every game during his rookie campaign, while logging over 1,500 minutes on the pitch.
UP NEXT
– The winner of the USF-Louisville match will travel to Davis, Calif. to face No. 14 UC Davis, on Nov. 24 at 4 p.m (EST).
– #GoBulls –
