TAMPA, Fla. (October 26, 2023) – The University of South Florida returned to the friendly confines of Corbett Stadium for the regular season finale against FAU on Sunday.
Sadie Sider-Echenberg and
Peyton Felton delivered the two goals to propel the Bulls (10-5-2, 6-1-2 AAC) took down the Owls (7-6-5, 3-3-3 AAC) 2-1 in front of the third-largest crowd in program history, with 1,431 fans.
South Florida won the American Athletic Conference East Division and secured a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. The Bulls claimed the first-ever AAC East Division Championship. This is the first year the AAC has had divisions for women's soccer.
Before the match, the Bulls honored
Vivianne Bessette,
Madison Holcombe,
Kouri Peace,
Madison Schwartzenberger,
Serita Thurton, and
Peyton Vincze for Senior Night. After the match, Head Coach
Denise Schilte-Brown was recognized for the final home match of her career. The six seniors and Coach Schilte-Brown were sent off with a win in their final regular season contest as Bulls.
The Owls came out of the gates fast and notched the first shot on goal of the match in the second minute, but
Leire Herraez Gallach was there to make the save.
Kouri Peace recorded the first shot on goal for USF in the 13th minute, but the FAU keeper made the stop.
The Bulls outshot the Owls 11-1 at the break. USF forced the FAU keeper to make five saves in the opening stanza.
After a ball took a deflection inside the box, Sider-Echenberg was able to gain possession. She then dribbled to the left and created a little separation. She ripped a shot from just inside the box and buried it into the near post, upper 90.
The Owls tied it up just three minutes later as Sofia Voldby found the back of the net.
South Florida earned a corner kick in the 73rd minute.
Vivianne Bessette placed a beautiful ball towards the far post.
Anna Sutter was on the end of the corner and headed the ball in front of the goal. Felton was there and beat a diving keeper for the go-ahead goal. Her goal turned out to be the game-winner.
USF finished the match with 20 shots, with 10 of those being on goal. The Bulls' backline held the Owls to four shots for the match, with two being on target.
Notable
·
Sadie Sider-Echenberg recorded her second career goal.
·
Peyton Felton produced her first collegiate goal.
·
Anna Sutter tallied the first assist of her USF career and her 13th point of the year.
·
Vivianne Bessette notched her fourth assist of the season and the ninth assist of her career.
· USF clinched the No. 2 seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament
· USF improved to 10-7-3 all-time against FAU.
· The attendance of 1,431 is the third highest in program history.
Next Up
South Florida returns to action for round one of the AAC Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 31. USF will be the No. 2 and will face FAU again in the opening round. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. first touch 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 –
