HOUSTON (October 19, 2023) – The University of South Florida returned to action on the road at Rice on Thursday for an American Athletic Conference matchup.
Gentiana Fetaj led USF with its lone goal of the match as the Bulls (8-5-2, 4-1-2 AAC) and Owls (3-11-2, 1-5-1 AAC) battled to a draw.
The Owls got on the board first as Sarah Piper converted the penalty kick in the 30th minute.
It only took 34 seconds for the Bulls to respond. Fetaj ripped a shot from just outside the box and found the back of the net to tie the match in the first half.
South Florida outshot Rice 13-3 in the first half. The Bulls held a slight advantage in corner kicks, 3-2.
South Florida rattled off three shots on goal in the first seven minutes of the second half.
USF produced 15 shots in the second half but was unable to find the back of the net for the go-ahead goal. The Bulls nearly doubled their season average of 15.0 shots per match with 28 in tonight's contest. South Florida forced the Rice keeper to make 11 saves.
Notable
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Gentiana Fetaj recorded her second goal of the season, which is also her second career goal.
· The 28 shots are the second most of the season.
· USF is now tied with ECU for first in the AAC East with 14 points, but ECU holds the tiebreaker over USF
· South Florida still has not lost to Rice in the history of the series.
Next Up
USF stays in Texas for a contest with UTSA on Sunday, October 22. The first touch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
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 –
