Head coach George Kiefer has said all year that he likes to challenge his team early in the year, and that is just what the Bulls got this weekend.

USF fell 5-0 to No. 9 Akron on Sunday night in the finale of the University of Akron Tournament.

In the opening game of the tournament on Friday, USF played to a 2-2 with Butler, to give the Bulls their first weekend without a win this year.

USF climbed as high as No. 2 in the rankings, but has gone winless in three of its past four games, including the loss Sunday night to perennial top-25 power Akron.

The Bulls fell behind 15 minutes into the match, and held on until the second half when the Zips added on four goals in the second half to give USF its most lop-sided loss of the season.

"The first half, I thought we did a good job. We were able to create two good chances and I felt the half should have ended, 1-1," Kiefer said. "We ran out of gas in the second half and Akron is a good team with a lot of depth."

Despite the loss Sunday, the Bulls seem poised for success again in 2012, thanks to the early tests they've faced in non-conference play. 

USF opens Big East play Saturday against Providence, when the the Bulls begin their quest to defend their Big East Red Division title from a season ago.

Ben Sweat and Lucas Baldin were named to the all-tournament team.