PHILADELPHIA (September 14, 2023) – The University of South Florida women's soccer team was back on the pitch for the American Athletic Conference opener against Temple in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Anna Sutter and
Vivianne Bessette each recorded a goal as the Bulls took down the Owls 2-1.
With the win, the Bulls improved to 4-4-0 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play, while the Owls fell to 1-5-3 overall and 0-1-0 in league action.
"I'm proud of our girls," said Head Coach
Denise Schilte-Brown. "It's never easy to play at Temple and it was a great team effort to come away with the victory."
USF got on the board first in the fifth minute.
Gentiana Fetaj ripped a shot from just outside the box, but the Temple keeper parried it off the crossbar. Sutter was there for the rebound and beat the goalie to the low near post.
Bessette produced a world-class strike on a free kick and found the back of the net in the eighth minute.
The Bulls took a 2-0 lead into the half. South Florida outshot Temple, 10-3, in the opening stanza.
Leire Herraez Gallach got the start in goal for USF and notched three saves in the first 45 minutes. She finished the match with five saves.
The Owls scored a goal on a penalty kick in the 60th minute by Nicole Sweeney.
The USF attack tallied 19 shots and 11 shots on goal for the match. The South Florida defense held Temple to six shots on goal.
Notable
·
Anna Sutter notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season
·
Gentiana Fetaj dished out her team-best sixth assist of the season
·
Vivianne Bessette picked up a goal and moved her points total to six on the season
· The Bulls are 8-3-0 in AAC openers under
Denise Schilte-Brown
· South Florida improved to 10-1-0 against Temple
· USF improved to 2-0 against Temple in conference openers
Next Up
South Florida returns to the Sunshine State for the home, conference opener against Charlotte. The Bulls and the 49ers are slated for a 7 p.m. first touch on Thursday, Sept. 21.
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 –
