Passariello Notches Two Goals as Bulls beat FGCU in Exhibition Match

Passariello scored 2 goals, including the game winner against FGCU today (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

It might only be an exhibition game, but it was a great way to start the season for the USF ladies soccer team as they notched a 3 to 2 win over FGCU at Corbett stadium.

Dealing with the heat, the ladies fell behind early as FGCU scored in the 11th minute as Wacker got the ball past Summer Ikeda who got the start in the net.  The Bulls dictated the pace of the game and were very aggressive up front with Sarah Miller and Sharla Passariello leading the attack.  The aggressiveness paid off in the 23rd minute as Passariello scored off a deflected ball to notch the game at 1 to 1 heading into half time (Passariello almost had another goal but was called offsides, Stokes had a shot go just high of the crossbar).

In the second half, Christiane Endler took over in the net as Coach Schilte-Brown continued rotate players in.  The Bulls fell behind in the second half however as Endler mishandled a loose ball and FGCU quickly scored, but the lead wouldn't last.  A minute later, Demi Stokes, who continued to attacked, scored the equalizing goal.  The game carried on and the Bulls, led by a great defensive backline late, were able to go on the attack and Passariello put them ahead 3 to 2 to win the game with just 2 minutes left in regulation.

It was a great showing by Passariello, Miller, and Stokes to begin the season and they will look to continue the offensive attack against Jacksonville as they host the Dolphins at 7PM at Corbett, the final exhibition game before the start of the season.

Rush Through the Roster: #6 Kayvon Webster

Kavyon Webster is ready to lead the way in the secondary this season (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

#6 - Kayvon Webster - 5-11 192-pounds - Senior - CB - Opa Locka, FL (Miami Monsignor Pace HS)

2011 stats: Webster made 11 starts last season, totaling 49 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR (for a TD vs. ND).

Position on the depth chart: Webster is listed as listed as one of the starting cornerbacks coming out of the spring.

2012 projection: Webster became a fulltime starter and came up big with 2 interceptions and made plays all over the field.  He is only going to get better as a ballhawk that can keep up with any receiver and gives the Bulls a great senior presence in the secondary, a unit that was depleted last year with injuries and comes into this year very young.  Look for Webster to have a huge season and take away half the field for opposing quarterbacks. 

USF Women's Soccer Takes on FGCU in the First Exhibition Game of 2012

For Green and Gold we stand united!

Soccer is back, well at least in exhibition form!  The 2012 USF women's soccer season begins this afternoon with an exhibition match against Florida Gulf Coast University at 1PM today at Corbett Stadium.

The Bulls played FGCU last season in another exhibition match where they led 1 to 0 before the game was called due to bad weather.  FGCU is the defending Atlantic Sun champions, coming off of a 14-5-2 (7-1-1) season.  Both sides will be looking to answer questions at certain positions as the season begins, but let's see who the top players are for the Falcons and what the Bulls will be working on in this first game.

Chasing Grothe: B.J. Daniels's Quest for the Big East Yardage Record

If you asked any USF fan "Who's the best Bulls quarterback of all time?", you's probably get a couple mixed responses. But if you asked a Big East fan, "Who's statistically the best Big East quarterback of all time?", then there's no doubt that the answer you'd receive is South Florida's Matt Grothe. Grothe spent his career chasing the record himself, following West Virginia's Pat White. So just how close is B.J. to writing his own name in the history books?

Rush Through the Roster: #7 B.J. Daniels

#7 - B.J. Daniels - 6-0 215-pounds - RS Senior - Quarterback - Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln HS)

2011 stats:  Daniels played in 11 games last year (missed 1 game due to a shoulder injury).  He finished the year 215 out of 365 pass attempts (58.9% completion percentage) for 2585 yards, including 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.  He carried the ball 132 times for 601 yards and 6 touchdowns.   

Position on the depth chart:  Daniels is the starting quarterback for this season (no shocker there).

2012 projection: Daniels had his best statistical season last year as a quarterback and with a loaded receiving corps this season, he is due to set new records.  He is a very athletic player and has shown over the years his ability to create with his legs and escape danger.  Now in his senior season, Daniels is looking for a big year, not only in the stat sheets, but to take the team and program to another level, the Big East title.  Daniels has gone on record stating that the 5-7 finish to last year left a bitter taste in his mouth (and the senior class) and they have been working harder than ever to prepare for this season.  This is Daniels last shot to make program history.  As long as he can stay healthy, he can reach those goals.

Rush Through the Roster: #8 Jon Lejiste

#8 - Jon Lejiste - 6- 212-pounds - 5th Yr. Senior - S - Delray Beach, FL (Atlantic Community HS)

2011 stats:  Lejiste totaled 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FF, and 4 FR in 12 games played last year.

Position on the depth chart:  Lejiste did not appear on the two-deep depth chart coming out of the spring due to a wrist injury that kept him out of practices.

2012 projection: Lejiste was held out of practices as he recovers, but come fall, he is a starter at free safety.  Lejiste is a hard hitting player that plays a lot in the box but can get down the field and keep up with receivers.  USF will need to him to rise this fall in the secondary that lost two seniors last year (Young and Washington).

Trip Down Memory Lane: Looking Back at the 2005 Recruiting Class

Jim Leavitt, the first coach in the program's history, led the team into the 2005 season and a new era for the program as USF joined the Big East. 

2012 season is right around the corner and as everyone prepares for another big season, I thought it would be interesting to take a step back and take a little trip down memory lane. 

I enrolled at USF in 2005, the first year the Bulls made it to a bowl game and their first season in the Big East where they finished 6-6 (4-3), losing 0 to 14 to NC State in the Meinke Car Care Bowl.  While the bowl game and the season were historic, I wanted to look back at the 2005 recruiting class, the same class that started their collegiate and scholastic careers at the same time I did.  While some of the names from that recruiting class are memorable, others have been forgotten over time or overlooked.  Let's take a look at that 2005 recruiting class and see what they did over their college careers as I began mine.

Rush Through the Roster: #9 Evan Landi

#9 - Evan Landi - 6-3 238-pounds - Senior - TE - Coral Springs, FL (Coral Springs Charter HS)

2011 stats: Landi had 29 receptions for 297 yards (10.1 per reception) including 1 touchdown (vs. Notre Dame).

Position on the depth chart: Landi is listed as one of the two starting tight ends coming out of the spring.

2012 projection: Landi moved from wide receiver to tight end last year and had solid results from the switch.  He is a big body that can get down field and has shown the ability to make the tough catches in traffic, making him an ideal target for the quarterback.  Look for "sure-handed" Landi to continue to progress at tight end and put up bigger numbers.

Notes from First Press Conference of the Season from Skip Holtz

From Greg Auman and USF Athletics - Football season draws ever closer as the team reported for the first day and Coach Skip Holtz addressed the media for the first press conference of the 2012 season. 

Holtz stated that the team would begin in shorts the first two days on campus and would leave for Vero Beach on Wednesday.  The team will hit the pads on Friday in the first real scrimmage of the season. 

Rush Through the Roster: #10 Terrence Mitchell

#10 - Terrence Mitchell - 5-10 158-pounds - Junior - WR - Tampa, FL (Hillsborough HS)

2011 stats: Mitchell appeared in 4 games last year before missing the rest of the year due to a concussion.  He had 7 receptions for 60 yards before the injury.  He also returned 13 punts for 67 yards (5.2 per return).

Position on the depth chart: Mitchell is listed behind Victor Marc on the depth chart coming out of the spring.

2012 projection: Mitchell, one of the fastest players on the team, had his season cut early last season due to a scary concussion.  He is now healthy, added a few pounds and is looking to make a huge return this season both on special teams and as a receiver.  With his speed and abilities, he should make a major impact this season and leave a lot of secondaries in the dust.