USF Faces SMU in AAC Semis on Wednesday
TAMPA (Nov. 12, 2019) – USF returns to the pitch on Wednesday when it faces the number two seed – and 11th-ranked team in the country – SMU in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament. Kickoff at the UCF Soccer & Track Stadium, in Orlando, is slated for 4:30 p.m. Fans that can't make it to Orlando can watch live on YouTube via the men's soccer page on GoUSFBulls.com. The winner of the match between the Bulls, seeded third in the tournament, and SMU will face the winner of the UCF vs. Temple match at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
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No. 3 SEED USF BULLS | 11-5-1*
Last Game: Nov. 9 vs. UConn, W, 1-0
Next Game: Nov. 16, vs. No. 1 seed UCF/No. 5 Seed Temple, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 153-118-35 (17th season)
At USF: 23-20-7 (Third season)
* USF records include a 2-1 win over Tulsa that counts towards AAC standings but is not recognized by the NCAA
NO. 2 SEED SMU | 14-1-1
Last Game: Nov. 5 vs. Tulsa, W, 6-3
Next Game: Nov. 13 vs. SMU, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Head Coach: Kevin Hudson
Career Record: 57-21-9 (Fifth season)
At SMU: Same
SCOUTING SMU
- SMU, the No. 2 seed in the AAC Tournament, comes into its semifinal match with USF with a 14-1-1 record, while finishing the 2019 conference schedule with a 5-1-1 mark … The Mustangs have won their last three matches since losing their lone contest of the season, a 4-3 OT loss to Memphis on Oct. 18.
- Garrett McLaughlin is one of five players with double-digit points on the year ... He leads the Mustangs with 35 points (15g, 5a) while Eddie Munjoma is second in scoring with 27 points (10g, 7a), and Knut Ahlander (7g, 11a) and Gabriel Costa (7g, 9a) have 25 and 22 points, respectively ... Nicky Hernandez rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10 points (4g, 2a).
THE SERIES VS. THE MUSTANGS
- USF and SMU have met 10 times prior to Wednesday afternoon, with the Bulls leading the all-time series, 4-2-4 ... The Bulls have dropped just one match to the Mustangs in the last eight meetings (3-1-4) with that coming this season when SMU handed USF a 3-0 setback on Oct. 11 in Tampa.
- The two schools played to a 1-1 double overtime draw last year on Oct. 6, in Dallas.
LAST TIME OUT
-
Adrian Billhardt scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, a goal that proved to be the game-winner, as USF pulled out a hard fought 1-0 win in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament at Corbett Stadium on Nov. 9.
- Billhardt gave the Bulls all the scoring that they needed in the 51st minute, taking a pass from
Victor Claudel and firing it into the back of the goal for the winner ... The goal was Billhardt's fourth in the past three matches, and fifth in his last five, after not scoring a goal in his first 11 outings of the year.
- Both teams had quality scoring chances down the stretch, while the Bulls had to play a man down for the final 11-plus minutes of the match after
Ignasi Lupon Fores picked up a red card in the 79th minute ... The USF defense, however, stepped up while goalkeeper
Harrison Devenish-Meares made two of his three saves in the crucial closing minutes to preserve the win ... In the end, despite losing the match, UConn held an 11-5 shots advantage on the Bulls, and a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.
FOUR EARN AAC HONORS
- USF is well represented on The American postseason All-Conference Team with four players earning honors ... Highlighting the Bulls' honorees are first team selections
Avionne Flanagan and
Javain Brown, and
Adrian Billhardt who was tabbed a second team selection ... In addition, Brown along with
Salvatore Mazzaferro were named to The AAC All-Rookie Team.
- Flanagan is third on the team in scoring with nine points (1g, 7a) ... He recorded two assists in USF's 2-0 win over No. 5 Louisville and logged his only goal of the season, to date, against Jacksonville in a 4-1 win ... On defensive, Flanagan helped the back line that allowed only 1.06 goals per game on the year, which is third best in The American ... Flanagan and his defensive teammates also assisted in the Bulls posting five clean sheets in the season.
- Brown enters the semifinals with seven points (3g, 1a) ... His three goals are tied for fourth on the team ... Defensively, he has been a leader on the back line making several crucial plays throughout the season ... Brown has started every game in 2019.
- Billhardt leads the Bulls in scoring with 11 points (5g, 1), and his five goals are tops on the team ... He has recorded all five of his goals in the last five games – including four goals in the last three games – after not scoring a goal in the first 11 games of the season.
- Mazzaferro has also helped Flanagan and Brown to form one of the stingiest defenses in The American, with their tough physical play. One of the top defensive freshmen in the conference, the Canadian native has started every game during his rookie campaign, while logging over 1,500 minutes on the pitch.
BILLHARDT & FLANAGAN EARN PRESEASON AAC HONORS
- USF men's soccer standouts
Avionne Flanagan and
Adrian Billhardt were 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
- The winner of the USF-SMU match will face either top-seeded UCF or the five seed Temple, on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
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