DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 8
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
MATCHUP: No. 16 USF (6-3-0, 2-0-0) vs. NR-Tulsa (5-4-1, 1-1-0)
LOCATION: Tampa, Fla. / Corbett Stadium (2,000+)
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GAME NOTES
 

TAMPA, OCT. 7, 2014 – The Bulls bring a three-game shutout streak into their conference showdown with Tulsa this Wednesday night at Corbett Stadium.

No. 16 USF has won its last three contests by a combined score of 7-0 and has only allowed five shots on goal in those three wins. The leader of the Bulls’ back four, Nikola Paunic, was named American Athletic Conference Defender of the Week on Monday.

It isn’t just the defense that’s stepped up for the Bulls, however, as the offense has been performing at a high level as well. USF leads the American in points per game (5.44), goals per game (1.67), assists per game (2.1) and shots (147).

Senior forward Tyler Blackwood was named one of six Disney Soccer/NSCAA Players of the Week and the American Offensive Player of the Week after recording the first hat trick by a USF player since 2007 when the Bulls beat Temple 3-0 last Saturday night.

USF will face one of its toughest tests this season on Wednesday night when Tulsa comes to town. The Golden Hurricane are currently tied for third in the conference after picking up a 4-2 win over Cincinnati last week.

SCOUTING TULSA

Team Outlook: Tulsa was picked to finish third, one spot behind the Bulls, in the American Preseason Coaches’ Poll. They are in their inaugural season as members of the American Athletic Conference after coming over from Conference USA.

The Golden Hurricane has already picked up a pair of marquee results this year, beating No. 3 Virginia 1-0 and drawing with No. 2 Creighton 1-1 earlier this season. They had two players named to the conference preseason team in junior defender Bradley Bourgeois and senior midfielder Akeil Barrett.

Player to Watch: Akeil Barrett (Sr.-MF)

Barrett is a three-year starter for the Golden Hurricane after transferring from Akron after his freshman season. He is tied for the team lead with nine points and four goals after scoring seven apiece in the last two seasons. Barrett was named All-Conference USA second team in 2013 and was chosen to the American Athletic Conference preseason team at the beginning of this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES

The Bulls are 2-1-0 all-time against Tulsa but will be looking to avenge a 1-0 loss to the Golden Hurricane in the second round of the 2012 NCAA tournament.

USF will also be looking to pick up its first win at home against Tulsa with the previous two wins coming away from Corbett Stadium.

QUICK HITTERS

» USF is ranked in the NSCAA Coaches’ Poll for the second straight week, jumping six spots to No. 16 after two shutout wins last week.

» USF has been nearly unbeatable when scoring two or more goals. The Bulls are 33-1-4 overall in the last five             years when scoring at least twice and haven’t lost at home since Sept. 13, 2002 (4-3 vs. UNC-Greensboro), going 66-0-5 in that span.

» The Bulls have been on fire offensively and now lead the American in points per game (5.44), goals per game (1.67), assists per game (2.1) and shots (147).

» USF has also been dominant defensively, posting three straight shutouts while only giving up five shots on goal in the past three matches. They have also allowed the fewest goals in the American this season, surrendering only seven, and have only given up one goal in the first half all season.

» USF has gone 32 straight games without giving up more than two goals and has allowed one or less in 25 of those games.

» The Bulls improved to 5-1 at home this season with a 3-0 win over Temple on Saturday night. They have only lost three of their last 15 home games dating back to last season.
» Senior midfielder Lucas Baldin is tied for eighth in the nation with six assists this season after posting one in five straight games. He also ranks second in the American with 12 points.

» Tyler Blackwood was named one of six Disney/NSCAA National Players of the Week and conference offensive player of the week after posting a hat trick against Temple, becoming the first USF player to do so since 2007.

» Spasoje Stefanovic leads the American with a 0.79 goals against average and is tied for second with three shutouts.

» The Bulls have had 10 different players record a point and six different players score a goal so far this season.

UP NEXT

The Bulls continue conference play as they hit the road to play Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct, 11 at 7 p.m., before coming back home to host Denver in a non-conference match on Oct. 15.