USF Athletics

USF Tabbed Third in Preseason AAC Poll; Flanagan Named Preseason All-Conference

January 25, 2021

TAMPA (Jan. 25, 2021) – The University of South Florida men's soccer team has been voted by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) head coaches to finish third in this year's preseason coaches' poll, the league announced on Monday. The Bulls trail, only, SMU and UCF, respectively.
 
Also, standout defender Avionne Flanagan (Baltimore, Md.) has been named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Rounding out the six-team preseason poll is Memphis and Temple in a tie for fourth, and Tulsa in sixth.
 
Flanagan, who was selected in the second round (29^th pick overall) in last week's MLS SuperDraft by FC Cincinnati, helped to form one of the stingiest defenses in The American with their tough physical play, and guided the backline that allowed only 1.26 goals per game on the year, which was tied for third-best in AAC. He also assisted in the Bulls posting five clean sheets on the season.
 
In addition to being part of USF's impressive defensive corps, Flanagan was also a threat on the offensive end of the pitch, finishing third on the team in scoring in 2019 with nine points on one goal and seven assists. He played in 18 matches, earning 16 stars, and was named AAC first-team all-conference.
 
The Bulls, who's 2020 season was moved from fall to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin their schedule on Saturday, Jan. 30, with an exhibition game against FIU, at 7 p.m., at Corbett Stadium. USF kicks off its regular season on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., when Temple visits Corbett Stadium.  
 
All of the Bulls' regular-season home matches on the season will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. Fan attendance policies for home matches will be announced at a later date.
 
The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement starting in 2020-21. USF will stream numerous home athletic events to ESPN+ this spring. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $5.99 monthly or $49.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
 
About USF Men's Soccer
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USF Men's Soccer competed in the school's first ever intercollegiate athletic contest on Sept. 25, 1965, beating Florida Southern 4-3. Since then, the oldest program on campus has built a winning tradition, claiming 14 conference championships and making 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 3 trips to the elite eight.
The program also has a strong reputation within the professional game and boasts 27 MLS draft picks. Notable alumni include two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham, USA 1994 World Cup star Roy Wegerle, and 2013 MLS Cup winner Dom Dwyer.
 
The Bulls have advanced to the postseason in 18 of the past 19 years, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances during that period.
 
USF Soccer concluded the 2019 season with an 11-7-1 overall record, earning an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Four players earned AAC honors, highlighted by first team selections Avionne Flanagan and Javain Brown. Adrian Billhardt was tabbed a second team selection. In addition, Brown and Salvatore Mazzaferro were named to The AAC All-Rookie Team. Head coach Bob Butehorn returns to lead USF in his fourth season on the sidelines.