USF Men’s Soccer Releases 2018 Schedule

The 2018 Men’s Soccer schedule dropped on Thursday, and what a doozy of a schedule it is.

Good. Lord.

USF starts with an exhibition on August 14 vs Eastern Florida, before the traditional Rowdies Cup vs University of Tampa on August 18th. This year, however, the Rowdies Cup will be played AT Tampa. This will be USF’s first trip to UT in a decade.

The regular season starts with two road games vs #6 Michigan State and #22 Michigan. The Bulls’ home opener is on August 31st vs Virginia Tech (finished 2017 receiving votes). Creighton will also visit Tampa before USF heads back to Big Ten territory at Ohio State.

Two more non-conference games vs FAU and @FGCU (I-75 Derby? Might as well name it, this is going to be a yearly fixture) bring USF to conference play at rival UConn.

The Bulls get a momentary reprieve vs Stetson before the conference gauntlet begins vs Tulsa and @SMU. The Bulls return home to play Temple before the War on I-4, at UCF on October 20 (the day of the homecoming football game).

The Bulls round out the year @ #20 FIU, @Cincinnati, and close the regular season in Tampa vs Memphis.

Second year skipper Bob Butehorn continues to schedule non-conference like a champ. Last year featured two top 10 teams and a brutal road trip. This year’s non-conference theme is names. You know these names, they’re great names. Even Ohio State, who’s new head coach won a national title as an assistant at Indiana.

Last year, a young Bulls team stumbled on the road early and ran out of gas at the end of the season. The AAC conference is regularly a tough but a good showing vs the Tampa Bay Rowdies during spring and an influx of new players should help bolster a more experienced roster this time around. Now more accustom to the more attacking play-style that Butehorn plays, the men’s soccer team should be stronger down the stretch.

Players to keep an eye on: Forward Adrian Billhardt, the 2017 AAC freshman of the year with 5 goal and 6 assists. Keepers Harrison Devenish-Mears and Christian Knight, who split time all last year and during the spring game vs the Rowdies. Defender Marcus Murphy. Murphy’s only game with USF was in the spring game vs the Rowdies, but the incoming freshman stood out a mile at sweeper. Already a fan favorite, he has potential to be defender of the year out of the gate.