The Bulls look to continue their climb within the top four of the AAC standings.
TAMPA (OCT. 17, 2019) – USF hits the road this weekend as it returns to American Athletic Conference action in the “City of Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia, when the Bulls butt heads with Temple on Friday night. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. at the Temple Sports Complex. Friday marks the first of USF’s final two road matches to end the regular season. The Bulls will close out the regular season at Memphis on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
USF BULLS (8-3*, 2-1* AAC)
Last Game: Oct. 15 vs. Jacksonville, W, 4-1
Next Game: Oct. 22 vs. No. 12/21 FIU, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 150-116-34 (17th season)
At USF: 20-18-6 (Third season)
* USF records include a 2-1 win over Tulsa that counts towards AAC standings but is not recognized by the NCAA.
TEMPLE OWLS (4-6-1, 1-1-1 AAC)
Last Game: Oct. 12 at Memphis, W, 2-1 (2ot)
Next Game: Oct. 22 at Louisville, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Brian Rowland
Career Record: 9-16-5 (Second season)
At Temple: Same
SCOUTING TEMPLE
– Temple comes into its match against USF on Friday with a 4-6-1 overall record and a 1-1-1 mark in The American … The Owls are 2-1-1 in their last four matches.
– Lukas Fernandes leads the Owls with five points (2g, 1a) while Amir Cohen (1g, 1a) and Sean Karani (1g, 1a) are tied for second with three points apiece.
– Simon Lefebvre has been the lone goalkeeper in net for Temple posting a .703 save percentage and a 0.97 goals-against-average.
THE SERIES VS. THE OWLS
– USF and Temple have met just seven times prior to Friday’s match, with the Bulls holding a 5-1-1 lead in the all-time series … The Green and Gold is 1-1-1 in Philadelphia against the Owls.
LAST TIME OUT
– In a night of firsts, USF turned in one of its most impressive performances of the season as the Bulls dominated Jacksonville in a 4-1 win at Corbett Stadium on Oct. 15.
– Freshman goalkeeper Cooper Blay earned his first career win in his first collegiate start – and game – recording just one save in 90 minutes of action … In addition, Avionne Flanagan scored his first goal of the season, Henrique Gallina tallied his first goal of the year, and Ignasi Lupon found the back of the net for the first time in his collegiate career.
– Jonathan Rosales netted his team-high tying third goal of the season, finding the back of the net in the 12th minute.
– USF finished the night outshooting Jacksonville, 20-5, including a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal … The 20 shots marked a season high.
TRIO EARNS AAC WEEKLY HONORS
– USF had a trio of players earn American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors for the week ending Sept. 29 … Javain Brown was named Defensive Player of the Week and Harrison Devenish-Meares was named Goalkeeper of the Week … Emilio Ycaza was named to the AAC honor roll … It is the second time this season that each player earned their respective honor … The Bulls, 5-2, posted a 2-0 record last week with wins over North Florida (1-0) and against UConn (2-1) in the AAC opener.
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 Friday, USF will return home on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. when No. 12/21 FIU visits Corbett Stadium for the first of three-straight home matches … USF will also take on No. 11/3 UCF on Oct. 26 and Cincinnati on Nov. 1 to close out the regular season home schedule … All home matches are at 7 p.m.
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 –
