Bulls face the Rowdies for the first time since 2020.
TAMPA (Feb. 22, 2021) – The University of South Florida men’s soccer team returns to the Corbett Stadium pitch Wednesday night for an exhibition contest vs. two-time, defending United Soccer League Eastern Conference Champions the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The Bulls will test where they stand in spring training when they face a Rowdies squad that went 23-7-2 last season and reached the USL Championship match for the second-straight year. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free. The exhibition match will be the only USF spring competition that is open to the public.
The Bulls finished the 2021 campaign with a 6-7-2 record and a 4-5-1 mark in the American Athletic Conference. USF proved to be one of the hottest teams in The American at the end of the year, boasting an impressive 4-1-1 record in the Bulls’ final six matches of the season.
South Florida returns an impressive core of young, yet experienced, talent that includes five of its top six scorers from last season.
Headlining the returnees is first-team AAC all-conference selection Shion Soga, who is the Bulls’ top returning goal scorer. Soga finished the season second on the team in points scored with 10, on three goals and four assists, with his assists marking a team-high.
Joining Soga as players to watch on the offensive side are Jeffrey “JT” Copper (3g, 3a, 9 pts.), Oscar Resano (3g, 2a, 8 pts.), Andres Freire (3g, 6 pts.) and Segun Afolabi (2g, 1a, 5 pts.).
The South Florida defense is anchored by first-team all-conference selection Salvatore Mazzaferro. Mazzaferro was a force during the 2021 campaign on the defensive side of the ball, anchoring a Bulls’ backline that ranked third in the conference in goals allowed (29). He also helped South Florida to three shutouts on the year. Offensively, Mazzaferro recorded two assists.
The Rowdies are coming off another banner season in 2021 that saw them defeat Louisville City FC in the Eastern Conference championship for the second straight year and advance to the USL Championship match where they lost to Orange County SC, 3-1.
The Bulls and Rowdies last met nearly two years ago, on Feb. 28, 2020, with both sides playing to a 1-1 draw at Corbett Stadium.
About USF Men’s Soccer
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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 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 29 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.
The Bulls have advanced to the postseason in 18 of the past 20 years, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances during that period.
USF Soccer concluded the 2020 season with four players earning AAC honors, highlighted by first first-team selection Josue Monge and Salvatore Mazzaferro who was tabbed a second-team selection. Also, Oscar Resano and Brian Schaefer were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team. Head coach Bob Butehorn returns to lead USF in his fifth season on the sidelines.
–#GoBulls –
