Storrs, Conn., Sept. 22, 2018—USF men’s soccer battled UConn to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night in Storrs, Conn., in its American Athletic Conference opening match of the 2018 season. 

 

Kori Cupid (Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago) and Stephen Rudderham (St. Petersburg, Fla.) scored the two Bull goals on the night, their second goals of the season, respectively. Rudderham’s left-footed volley with his back to the goal was a highlight of the season for the Bulls, stunning the Huskies and giving the Bulls a momentary advantage. UConn’s two goals came in the first ten minutes and the last 11 minutes of regulation, respectively, tying the contest. Neither the Bulls or the Huskies were able to find the back of the net in the double overtime periods, sealing the draw. 

 

UConn got down to business in the first half, when Dayonn Harris scored in the seventh minute for the Huskies. USF immediately responded with a goal of its own when Kori Cupid headed in a corner kick from Alex Zis for the first equalizer of the night. 

 

For the next 66 minutes, USF (2-5-1, 0-0-1 AAC) and UConn (4-2-2, 0-0-1 AAC)went back and forth before Stephen Rudderham (St. Petersburg, Fla.) turned and popped in a left-footed volley, after controlling the ball in the air with his back to the goal from 25 yards out, to give USF the edge in the 77^thminute. UConn responded not even three minutes later with a half-volley to tie the match again. USF did not have another chance in regulation and the Bulls and the Huskies went to overtime to battle. 

 

In overtime, USF got off three shots, but could not find the back of the net for the golden goal. The USF defense held the Huskies to zero shots in both overtime periods. 

 

On the night, USF had eight shots with three on frame and took three corner kicks. Goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares played all 110 minutes for the Bulls and had two saves on the night. 

 

 

Quotable

 

“I’m proud of the effort from the guys tonight,” head coach Bob Butehorn said. “They definitely deserved the result tonight.” 

 

Notable

·       Stephen Rudderham controlled a ball in the air from 25 yards out with his back to the goal before turning and sending in a left-footed volley for his second goal of the season, a highlight goal for the Bulls this season. 

·       Kori Cupid scored the equalizing goal, his second of his career, on a header from Alex Zis. The duo matched up for a similar goal in back-to-back weeks, scoring on the same set piece against FGCU. 

 

Up Next

The Bulls will return home to Tampa to take on in-state foe Stetson on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Corbett Stadium.  

 

About USF Men’s Soccer

The Bulls concluded the 2017 regular season with a 6-6-4 overall record and finished fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a 3-2-2 mark. Head Coach Bob Butehorn leads the Bulls in his second season at the helm in 2018. Senior goalkeeper Christian Knight was selected as the American Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, while sophomore Adrian Bilhardt was added to the preseason all-conference team.

 

Follow the men’s soccer team on social media (Twitter| Facebook| Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.

 

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