USF Athletics

Four More Bulls Earn Weekly AAC Honors

March 02, 2021

IRVING, Texas (March 1, 2021) – For the second-straight week the University of South Florida men's soccer program had four players earn weekly American Athletic Conference honors, for the week ending March 28, with Jeffrey "JT" Copper and Segun Afolabi named Co-Rookies of the Week.
 
Copper, a freshman winger from Tampa, recorded the equalizer in the Bulls' 2-1 win at Temple on Feb. 27, a goal that was also the first of his career. Copper came in off the bench and quickly took a pass from Jose Monge and fired a shot from the left side of the box into the top right corner of the goal in the 33^rd minute. It was Copper's lone shot of the night.

A freshman forward from Austell, Ga., Afolabi netted the game-winner against the Owls, while also recording his first career goal, in the win at Temple. Like Copper, Afolabi came in off the bench and connected off an assist from Josue Monge in the 39^th minute on his lone shot of the match. The game-winner led to the Bulls' second-straight win after beginning the season 0-2.

Also being recognized were senior midfielder Josue Monge (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior defender Marcus Murphy (Fleming Island, Fla.) who were named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.

Monge had an impressive return to his hometown serving up a career-high two assists for the Bulls on their two goals in a 2-1 win at Temple.

Murphy continues to uphold the Bulls' reputation as a tough defensive team, helping to hold the Owls to just one goal in USF's 2-1 win. After the Owls scored in the 21^st minute. Murphy anchored the defensive corps that held them without a goal the rest of the way, and with two shots on goal for the match.

The Bulls return to the pitch on Saturday at 7 p.m., when they host Tulsa at Corbett Stadium. The match can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
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.
 
Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, USF will have limited fan attendance via pass list only at Corbett Stadium.
 
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.