TAMPA, Fla. (August 21, 2024) – The University of South Florida was back inside the friendly confines of Corbett Stadium for a contest with Southern.
Anna Sutter led USF with a pair of goals as the Bulls bested the Jaguars 5-0.
With the win, South Florida improved to 2-1 on the year, while Southern fell to 0-3. The Bulls scored five goals in back-to-back matches for the first time since 2019 when South Florida defeated Rice 5-1 and UTSA 5-0. South Florida broke the Corbett Stadium record for shots in a match with 40. The previous mark was 39 set against Alabama A&M on August 28, 2011.
Serita Thurton dribbled through some defenders before she ripped a shot on net, but the Southern keeper made the save.
Gentiana Fetaj was the for the rebound and drilled it into the back of the net to put the Bulls on the board in the 17th minute.
With six seconds left in the first half,
Ava Rightmire dribbled into the box and sent a ball to a cutting
Anna Sutter. Sutter used her right foot and chipped it over the keeper for the goal. USF took a 2-0 lead into the half.
The Bulls connected multiple passes to score their third goal of the match in the 48th minute.
Joy Kimwemwe got things started and found the foot of
Noelle Sather who delivered it to the foot of
Peyton Felton. Felton buried the shot into the back of the net.
Sutter picked up her second goal of the night in the 62nd minute.
Georgia Brown found Felton just outside the box. Felton used a beautiful first touch to pass it over to Sutter who beat the keeper to the near post.
In the 81st minute,
Ella Shapiro delivered a great ball towards the far post.
Michaela Carter was there to head it on goal, but the keeper was there to make the save.
Sophia Cabral was there to blast it into the back of the net. The Bulls defeated the Jaguars 5-0.
USF finished the night with 40 shots on goal. Sutter recorded two goals, the third time in her career with multiple goals. She moved her career total to 21. Fetaj earned her third career goal, while Felton tallied her second career goal. Cabral notched the first goal of her young career. Brown collected her fourth assist of her career, while Thurton posted her second career assist. Carter, Felton, Kimwemwe, Rightmire, Sather, and Shapiro all earned their first career assists.
Leire Herraez Gallach got the start in goal and played 62 minutes. She did not face a shot on goal.
Logan McGruder played the remaining 28 minutes in goal for the Bulls and did not see a shot on goal. The Bulls have held opponents to no shots on goal in three of the last four halves.
From the Coach – Head Coach Chris Brown
"It was a good game for the players. We got to get a lot of players' time. We're trying to build chemistry and continuity, and this allows us with our newer players to get valuable minutes. I appreciate the competitive spirit of Southern. They tried to make it difficult in the beginning to get numbers behind the ball. I'm pleased with the outcome and the opportunity to get players valuable minutes."
Notable
· The Bulls scored five goals in back-to-back matches for the first time since 2019 when South Florida defeated Rice 5-1 and UTSA 5-0.
· South Florida broke the Corbett Stadium record for shots in a match with 40. The previous mark was 39 set against Alabama A&M on August 28, 2011.
· The Bulls have held opponents to no shots on goal in three of the last four halves.
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Anna Sutter recorded two goals, the third time in her career with multiple goals.
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Gentiana Fetaj earned her third career goal.
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Peyton Felton tallied three points with the second goal of her career and the first assist of her career.
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Sophia Cabral notched her first career goal.
Next Up
The Bulls remain at home on Sunday for another in-state matchup with the FGCU Eagles. The first touch is scheduled for 1 p.m. 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 2024 season will be the first with Chris Brown at the helm. He spent the last 17 seasons as the associate head coach. Brown helped lead the Bulls to three AAC regular season titles, three AAC Tournament titles, and eight NCAA Tournament appearances – winning a conference title every year from 2017-21 while making five straight NCAA appearances during that period. Brown helped lead the Bulls to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010, a program-record 16 wins and program-best NCAA Tournament third-round appearance in 2019, both conference regular season and tournament titles in 2020, and a string of 10 straight seasons with 10 or more wins (2012-21). Brown has helped lead the Bulls to every NCAA appearance in program history, including two appearances in the second round, and three AAC Championship Game appearances.
As associate head coach, he mentored the program's first All-American and recent USF Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Evelyne Viens, who went on to earn three total All-America honors and an Olympic gold medal with the Canadian National Team at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Goalie Sydney Martinez (2020) and forward Sydny Nasello (2020 and 2021) also earned All-America honors and were among the Bulls that have earned a total of eight AAC Offensive Player of the Year, AAC Midfielder of the Year, AAC Defensive Player of the Year or AAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Players he has coached hold every program's individual record and most, if not all, of the top 10 marks in every category.
– #GoBulls –
