USF Athletics

Shion Soga Tabbed AAC Rookie of the Week

March 08, 2021

IRVING, Texas (March 8, 2021) – University of South Florida men's soccer freshman Shion Soga has been named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the week ending March 7. It is Soga's first conference honor of his young career. In addition, Kazuna Takase and Brian Schaefer were also named to the Weekly Honor Roll.
 
USF recorded its third-straight win last week with a thrilling 2-1 victory over No. 22 Tulsa. The victory was also the second for the Bulls against a Top 25 foe and improves their record, this season, against nationally-ranked teams to 2-1.
 
Soga logged the tying goal off the bench against Tulsa on March 6. The score was the first of his career. Soga converted in the second half after having the best chance of the first half to put the Bulls up 1-0, however, the shot – the first of just two on the night – was saved at the last second. Soga kick-started the Bulls' offense that trailed in shots at the break, 5-2, and finished the match outshooting Tulsa, 5-3, in the second stanza leading to the victory.
 
Takase recorded another big performance in goal for USF in the win over Tulsa. He recorded two saves on the night, including the biggest save of his career in the second half, a highlight reel goal that kept the Golden Hurricane off the board.
 
Schaefer scored the game-winning goal in the win, the first of his career. Schaefer came in off the bench and was a key factor in the Bulls' offensive attack against Tulsa.

USF will hit the road over the next two weekends for key American Athletic Conference matches. The Bulls will travel to Memphis on March 13 and SMU on March 20 following this weekend tilt with Tulsa.

USF will return home on March 27 when it welcomes UCF to Corbett Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
 
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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.