TAMPA, OCT. 24, 2017 – The University of South Florida men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw Tuesday night when it took on FGCU in nonconference action at Corbett Stadium. Gonzalo Rodriguez scored the equalizer in the 35^th minute.
 
USF (6-5-3) played four games in 12 days which led to 17 players seeing action Tuesday night. A new look to the starting line-up that included five newcomers battled a veteran FGCU squad for 110 minutes. FGCU (6-5-3) took an early lead in the 17^th minute of the contest. The Eagles were awarded a penalty kick and Albert Ruiz converted the shot for a 1-0 lead.
 
Gonzalo Rodriguez (Coustituciou, Chile) scored his second goal of the season in the 35^th minute. Adrian Billhardt (Berlin, Germany) executed a perfect corner kick, bending it from the right side to Rodriguez. Rodriguez, ready and waiting, scored on a header just past the near post.  
 
In the 39^th minute, FGCU's Jordan Lue was issued a red card and the Bulls' played in a man-up situation for the final 71 minutes. Christian Knight (Odessa, Fla.) turned in a four-save performance, all four saves came in the first half.

KEY STAT:
20: USF tallied 20 shots for the third time this season. The Bulls outshot the Eagles 20-12, including a 12-6 advantage in the final three periods.
 
QUOTABLES:
Junior Gonzalo Rodriguez on the FGCU rivalry:
"I think FGCU is a very good team. We have lost to them the past two games and we had a lot to play for tonight. The team's effort tonight was great. I think the guys came that came in from the bench did a really good job and lifted us as a team."
 
Head coach Bob Butehorn the team's resiliency:
"There's too many opening lines for that game. I knew FGCU was going to give us a tough game regardless. I knew there was going to be a lot of emotion in that game. I'm glad the way we responded in coming back and getting a goal but it was a hard game for our team but I think a good one for our fans."

NOTABLES: 

• The Bulls complete the regular season with a 3-1-1 nonconference home record.
• Billhardt continues to lead the Bulls with six assists on the season. The freshman has a team best 16 points (5 goals, 6 assists).
• USF has scored at least one goal in all but two games this season.  

UP NEXT:
USF will honor its senior class Sunday in its final home match of the season. The Bulls host No. 10 SMU at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, USF will recognize seven seniors in a special on-field presentation.
 
On Dec. 18 Bob Butehorn was appointed the head coach the USF men's soccer program. A member of the University of Tampa's 1981 national championship team and a three-time conference coach of the year, Butehorn previously led Florida Gulf Coast University's men's soccer program to six conference regular season championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and Top 25 rankings in five seasons since 2010.
 
The Bulls concluded the season as The American regular season champions and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulls finished the season with a 10-6-4 overall record and a 6-1-0 mark in the American Athletic Conference.
 
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