Bulls vs. Bulls Penalty Shootout; Scott Donation to Stampede For Women Caps Friday Fall Camp Day
Gallery: (8-20-2021) Football vs. Women's Soccer PK Shootout
By Joey Johnston
Football met futbol on the USF soccer pitch on Friday morning. It was a challenge match, a penalty-kick shootout between Coach Denise Schilte-Brown's women's soccer team, coming off Thursday night's season-opening victory against the Florida Gators, and Coach Jeff Scott's football team.
Amid the backdrop of Scott making a $10,000 donation in the name of the football program to the Bulls Club "Stampede for Women,'' an initiative designed to raise scholarship money and build facilities for USF's women's sports, it was pure competition.
After five rounds of PKs, it was tied 4-4. But nobody wanted a tie. So it was down to the coaches.
With Scott in goal, hastily putting on pass-catching gloves, Schilte-Brown lined up for her opportunity. Once, she was one of the nation's top strikers, fourth in NCAA Division I scoring as a player for Maryland-Baltimore County. "And I don't miss my PKs,'' Schilte-Brown said. "Never.''
Schilte-Brown went for finesse, using some shuffle steps before addressing the ball, getting Scott to lean to his right. Then Schilte-Brown punched a chip to the right side, which would've been a devastating choice had the ball gone in. It didn't. It hit the right post.
"Rather be lucky than good,'' Scott said.
Scott went for power, drilling a shot to the left side on the ground, just eluding Schilte-Brown's diving attempt. Football won it 5-4.
"I think I kicked a soccer ball a couple of times in my life,'' said Scott, who never played the game, not even for his 5-year-old recreation team. "I'm just glad I hit it and didn't look too bad.''
The football team celebrated, of course. The women's soccer team was momentarily crestfallen (but secretly amused at the football team's over-the-top delight).
It was all in fun, a moment for togetherness, camaraderie and mutual respect. The football players have been supporting the women's soccer team en masse at Corbett Field, including rowdy support at Thursday night's season opener. It's a move greatly appreciated by Schilte-Brown's players.
"You guys are powerful human beings, strong men, great representatives of our university,'' Schilte-Brown told the football players. "When you come out and support us in these numbers, it gives us the power to plow through a game like (beating the Gators).
"I always want our football team to win. I want you to win even more now. We are behind you guys, too!''
For the record, here's how it all went down:
The football goalkeeper was linebacker Dwayne Boyles. The women's soccer goalkeeper was All-American Sydney Martinez, coming of a strong performance vs. Florida.
Round 1
Sydney Nasello scored to the left corner.
Christian Williams scored to the right, off Martinez's hand.
(Tied 1-1)
Round 2
Lucy Roberts scored to the right corner.
Kenny Scribner scored to the left, off Martinez's hand.
(Tied 2-2)
Round 3
Chyanne Dennis scored right as Boyles guessed left.
Flaubert Akepeu scored cleanly to the right.
(Tied 3-3)
Round 4
Vivianne Bessette's shot to the left was swatted away by Boyles.
Rashawn Yates' shot caromed off the right post.
(Tied 3-3)
Round 5
Madeleine Penman-Derstine faked out a diving Boyles and scored to the right.
Jared Sackett drove home a goal to the left.
It was left to the coaches. The football team prevailed. In truth, everyone won.
"We want a championship culture, where all teams are supportive of each other,'' Scott said. "We are Team USF. We hope the enthusiasm becomes contagious.''
Scott said football attracts natural attention and is the target for much of the athletic department's fund-raising. So he wanted to give back to women's sports.
"Every time a USF team wins, we all win,'' Scott said. "That's the way I view it.''
"Coach Scott is a great leader and we appreciate him,'' Schilte-Brown said. "We love being in an environment where female and male athletes support each other. Coach Scott got us this time. We're hoping for a rematch.''
Scott didn't say it, but you could read the response in his face. It was reminiscent of a line from "Rocky.''
Ain't gonna be no rematch!
