TAMPA, Fla. (October 12, 2023) – The reigning American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News National Team of the Week member
Signe Markvardsen delivers her second game-winning goal in two matches. The University of South Florida women's soccer team (7-5-1, 3-1-1 AAC) defeated North Texas (8-4-1, 2-2-1 AAC), 1-0, at Corbett Stadium on Thursday.
Anna Sutter nearly put the Bulls ahead in the sixth minute, but the backline for the Mean Green was there to make a team save.
The Bulls and Mean Green went to the half scoreless. South Florida put four shots on goal. The strong USF defense only allowed two shots on goal from North Texas.
In the 55th minute, Markvardsen broke the ice with the first goal of the match. She dribbled through multiple defenders and then ripped a shot from well outside the box. She used her left foot and launched a shot that beat an outstretched keeper to the far post.
In the 71st minute, the Mean Green saw its best scoring opportunity as Kat Burnell put a shot on goal to the far post, but
Leire Herraez Gallach made a diving save and pushed the shot just wide of the goal. She kept the match 1-0 in favor of USF.
Herraez Gallach finished the match with five saves and improved to 5-2-1 on the year in goal for the Bulls. As a unit, South Florida held one of the top attacking teams in the conference to just eight shots, only five of those being on target. The USF defensive was stout the whole match and held UNT to just two corner kicks.
"I thought the girls did a much better job," said Head Coach
Denise Schilte-Brown. "They are crushing it really. I think they're communicating well with one another. They play with each other really well. They cover for each other really, really well. They're excellent on the entry balls. And they're actually dangerous attackers. I mean, Georgia was dangerous tonight. Viv is always dangerous on set pieces and is seen as my left back, so she's crushing it. Signe is one of the smartest soccer players we have when we switch roles. She might ask one question, but she just understands the game of soccer."
Notable
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Signe Markvardsen posted her third career goal and has scored game-winners in back-to-back matches.
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Leire Herraez Gallach produced her third shutout of the season and second consecutive.
· South Florida moves into a tie for first in the AAC East and is in a three-way tie for second in the conference with 10 points.
· The Bulls held the Mean Green to zero corner kicks in the first half.
· South Florida held North Texas to eight five shots on goal and only eight for the match. UNT came into the contest averaging 11.5 shots per match.
· USF wins the first meeting against UNT.
Next Up
USF is back on the pitch at Corbett Stadium for a match with SMU on Sunday, Oct. 15. The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on ESPN+.
About South Florida Women's Soccer
Be sure to follow USF women's soccer on social media (Twitter / Instagram / Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
The 2023 season marks the 17th and final for head coach Denise Schilte-Brown at the helm of the Bulls. Schilte-Brown guided South Florida to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2010 and the Bulls have made eight total postseason appearances (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021) in the last 13 years. USF posted five consecutive seasons with a conference championship, winning the regular-season title in 2018, 2020, and 2021, while earning the tournament crown in 2017, 2019, and 2020. USF alum and Olympic Gold Medalist, Evelyne Viens, was selected fifth overall in the NWSL Draft by the Sky Blue FC, now Gotham FC. Viens was one of four Pro Bulls to participate in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
– #GoBulls –
