Men’s soccer to host Hofstra in first round of NCAA Tournament
USF men’s soccer was picked to host Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. This is the first time the team has reached the tournament since 2019.
The winner of Thursday’s match will move to the second round on Sunday to take on No. 1 seed Kentucky.
The Bulls (8-6-4, 5-1-3 AAC) are coming off a 2-0 loss to FIU in the AAC Championship final on Sunday. Hofstra (14-3-3, 5-2-2 CAA) beat Elon 2-1 in its Colonial Athletic Association Championship final on Saturday.
The last time men’s soccer made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, the Bulls got knocked out in the first round after losing 4-1 to Louisville.
Coach Bob Butehorn is glad the team gets to play at home, especially after a tough season playing other conference opponents who made it to the tournament, such as Memphis, SMU, FIU, Tulsa and North Carolina.
“We’re at home. I think we earned that,” he said. “So let’s go to work.’
“We know Hofstra is a tough opponent and now we figure out and research how to play against them. But the way we finished definitely gives me confidence. I hope it does the same for the boys. We’ve been a good team throughout but we were just too inconsistent in the beginning. Now that we’re playing with consistency, it makes all the difference. That has given us confidence and belief in our abilities.”
USF and Hofstra will play Thursday in Corbett Stadium at 7 p.m.
More Stories
Column: USF men’s basketball, thanks for the fun season
This is a personal column about assistant sports editor Noah Vinsky’s first-hand experience covering men’s basketball. Sports have always run in my blood. Growing up, ESPN was nearly on a constant loop on my living room television. I came to USF knowing I wanted to be a writer. The Oracle seemed like a great place […]
USF’s Mindy McCord builds culture of “family and love” into lacrosse
At 23 years old, a career in coaching was not what Mindy McCord had envisioned. After a stint playing for one of the top field hockey teams in Australia following a successful college playing career, she returned to America. McCord was on track to earn a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech while coaching […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
Here’s why these USF softball players chose their jersey numbers
For athletes, the number they wear is more than the added fabric on the back of their jersey. It often tells a deeper story about the players — who they are and where they come from. Here’s why these three USF softball players chose their respective jersey numbers. Related: USF softball is gaining momentum during […]
USF football head coach Alex Golesh: The man behind the process
Football coach Alex Golesh said USF has been on his mind since his own days as a college student when the program was top five in the country. “I distinctly remember sitting there watching it and thinking ‘What is S Florida and what are they doing in the top five in the country?’” Golesh said. […]
USF baseball matches last season’s wins at midseason
USF baseball has reached its midseason, powering through a turnaround year. Despite losing to Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday 7-5, It has already won 21 games, matching the same total from last season with a road victory against Tulane on Sunday. The Bulls (21-16, 7-5 AAC) stand third out of 10 teams in the conference. […]