Bulls to Host Virginia Tech in Blackout Home Opener
Matchup: USF Bulls (0-2) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0)
Date: Friday, Aug. 31
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa // Corbett Stadium
Watch: YouTube
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Radio: Bulls Unlimited
Twitter Updates: @USFMSoc
Tickets: USFBullsTix.com
TAMPA, Fla., August 30, 2018–Head coach
Bob Butehorn and the USF men's soccer team will welcome the Virginia Tech Hokies to Corbett Stadium Friday night in the Bulls' home-opening match at 7 p.m., for a blackout matchup where Bulls will compete in black uniforms for the first time in Tampa.
"The team was definitely disappointed with the results in Michigan so I'm looking forward to seeing their response on Friday night," head coach
Bob Butehorn said. "Virginia Tech is a quality opponent and we're looking forward to a big crowd for our home opener."
Blackout, Food Truck to Boost Fan Experience
Fans can enjoy a blackout game with 500 T-shirts to be distributed to the first attendants, and view the men's black adidas uniforms for the first time in competition in Tampa. Additionally, Lolli's Mexican Cravings food truck will add to the fan atmosphere and provide another concession option. USF concessions will feature special food pricing and options, including flavored popcorn in the form of cheddar, sriracha cheddar and parmesan garlic.
USF men's soccer will also promote Youth Soccer Night, and youth soccer players and teams are invited to come and enjoy the soccer atmosphere in Tampa.
Season ticket members may pick up their commemorative 2018 USF soccer scarf at Friday night's matchup. Students are admitted to the match for free and are invited to cheer along with the Goalmouths, USF's official soccer student section. Tickets to the game cost $5 and are available on
USFBullsTix.comor at the gate.
Bulls Ready to Come Home
USF men's soccer (0-2) is coming off of a two-game road trip to Michigan to open the 2018 campaign, where the Bulls fell to then-No. 7 Michigan State (1-0) and then-No. 21 Michigan (2-0). The Bulls and Spartans battled until the final moments on Aug. 24 in East Lansing, with a nearly impenetrable defensive effort bolstering the Bulls against the Spartan attacks, until the Spartans edged in a goal in the 86
thminute, after having no shots on frame for the duration of the game.
In Ann Arbor, USF experienced adversity in the form of an ejection and will be without key defenseman
Henrique Gallina (Atibaia, Brazil) in Friday night's match. The Bulls played with 10 men for the majority of the contest and fell to the Wolverines 2-0.
Goalkeeper
Harrison Devenish-Meares (Sydney, Australia) was a bright spot for the Bulls in the opening weekend, earning a career-high six saves against Michigan on Monday night.
The Opponent
Virginia Tech is 2-0 after the opening weekend of the 2018 season, after defeating Air Force 2-1 last Friday, and Garder-Webb by the same score on Sunday in double overtime in Harrisonburg, Va. Virginia Tech's scoring effort against Air Force came at the feet of junior defenseman Marc Hoppler and the deciding goal from junior forward Nico Quashie. Hoppler scored his second goal of the season against Gardner-Webb in double overtime to secure the victory for the Hokies. Freshman midfielder Chris Little scored the equalizing goal against Gardner-Webb midway through the second half.
In the two contests, Hokie goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld amassed 200 minutes and totaled four saves on the weekend.
Notable
- Goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares had a career-high six saves in Monday's matchup against then-No. 21 Michigan.
- USF leads the all-time series against Virginia Tech, 4-2, with the last meeting being a 4-1 Hokies victory in Harrisonburg, Va., in the 2016 season.
Watch Live
The match will be live streamed on
YouTube, and live stats will be available on
GoUSFBulls.com. Fans can also follow live updates on
Twitter.The match will also be available on
Bulls Unlimited, the Bulls' home radio station hosted on iHeartRADIO with
Darek Sharp on the call.
Up Next
The Bulls will continue their two-game home tilt when No. 20 Creighton travels to Tampa to face the Bulls on Labor Day, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at Corbett Stadium.
About USF Men's Soccer
The Bulls concluded the 2017 regular season with a 6-6-4 overall record and finished fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a 3-2-2 mark. Head Coach Bob Butehorn leads the Bulls in his second season at the helm in 2018.
Follow the men's soccer team on social media (Twitter| Facebook| Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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