The Bulls look to continue their domination of the Knights in the all-time series.
TAMPA (OCT. 25, 2019) – USF continues its three-match homestand on Saturday when it battles No. 8/6 UCF in the “War on I-4” at Corbett Stadium. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday’s contest is the second of the Bulls’ three-match homestand that they will play in the final four outings of the regular season. USF will also take on Cincinnati on Nov. 1 – on Senior Night – to close out the stretch. The Bulls will close out the regular season at Memphis on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
USF BULLS 8-4-1* (2-2* AAC)
Last Game: Oct. 22 vs. No. 11/24 FIU, T, 2-2 (2ot)
Next Game: Nov. 1 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 150-117-35 (17th season)
At USF: 20-19-7 (Third season)
* USF records include a 2-1 win over Tulsa that counts towards AAC standings but is not recognized by the NCAA
No. 8/6 UCF KNIGHTS 9-1-2 (3-0-1 AAC)
Last Game: Oct. 20 at UConn, W, 2-1 (ot)
Next Game: Nov. 29 vs. Stetson, 6 p.m.
Head Coach: Scott Calabrese
Career Record: 115-77-27 (12th season)
At UCF: 30-10-7 (Third season)
QUICK HITS
– Avionne Flanagan was named to the American Athletic Conference weekly Honor Roll for the week ending Oct. 20 after posting a six-point week … Flanagan had two goals and two assists; scored a goal and an assist in the Bulls’ completed 2-1 match with Tulsa on Oct. 14, and followed the next day with a goal and assist against Jacksonville.
– Flanagan took over the team lead in points scored with his assist against FIU on Tuesday night and currently has nine points (1g, 7a) just one point ahead of Emilio Ycaza, who has eight (4g) … Victor Claudel and Jonathan Rosales are each tied for third with seven points (3g, 1a) … Javain Brown (2g, 1a) with five points and Trey Jackson (1g, 2) with four points are fifth and sixth, respectively, in scoring on the year.
SCOUTING USF
– UCF comes into its match with USF boasting a 9-1-2 record on the year, and is undefeated since dropping its season-opener at Wake Forest on Aug. 30 … The Knights are coming off a 2-1 overtime win at UConn on Oct. 20 in Storrs, Conn.
– Cal Jennings, one of four players with double-digit points, leads the Knights in scoring with 24 points (11g, 2a) while Louis Perez is second with 16 (4g, 8a) … Yoni Sorakin is third with 13 points (4g, 5a) and Gino Vivi has 10 points (4g, 2a).
– Yannik Oetti has played every minute in goal for UCF, recording 36 saves and boasts a 1.24 goals against average.
THE SERIES VS. THE KNIGHTS
– USF and UCF have met 32 times prior to Saturday night with the Bulls holding a commanding 23-6-3 lead in the all-time series … The Green and Gold are 8-3-3 in matches played against the Knights in Tampa.
– The Bulls have won five of their last six matches and 10 of their last 13 … In addition, USF is 19-4 since dropping its only back-to-back matches in the series … The Knights ended the Bulls’ five-match winning streak in the series, last year, with a 2-1 decision in Orlando.
LAST TIME OUT
– USF held the upper hand on Florida International for over 60 minutes on Tuesday night, however, it took just under 90 seconds for the Panthers to change the complexion of the contest as the two sides played to a hard-fought 2-2 double overtime draw at Corbett Stadium.
– The Bulls got goals from Victor Claudel in the 28th minute, and Adrian Billhardt in the 62nd, to take a 2-0 lead on the Panthers … As much as USF had control of the match, FIU kept pressing and finally broke through in the 77th minute, and then with the equalizer 89 seconds later.
– In addition to USFs two scores, the Bulls had opportunities to convert on open nets twice, however, FIU defenders came in to clear the ball just as it was about to cross the goal line.
– The Panthers, on the other hand, had an opportunity to get on the board just a minute before their first goal, by way of a penalty kick, however they put the ball off the left post.
– The Bulls finished the night outshooting the Panthers, 19-14, and held a slight 9-7 advantage in shots on goal.
FLANAGAN EARNS AAC WEEKLY HONORS
– Avionne Flanagan was named to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) weekly Honor Roll on Monday after posting a six-point week … Flanagan had two goals and two assists; scored a goal and an assist in the Bulls’ completed 2-1 match with Tulsa on Oct. 14, and followed the next day with a goal and assist against Jacksonville.
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 Saturday, USF will take on Cincinnati on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. to close out the regular season home schedule … The Bulls will close out the regular season on Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. ET, at Memphis.
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 –
