The University of South Florida’s women’s soccer team is on a roll these days.
Fresh off of a 3-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University in the first round of the NCAA College Cup, the Bulls (13-3-1) are getting ready to face Florida in the second round tonight at 6 p.m. It’s the second time in program history the Bulls have made it this far.
That’s great news for sophomore Rebekah Anderson and redshirt freshman Kylee Burroughs. Both came to USF from Plant City-area high schools — Anderson played for Durant and Burroughs for Plant City — and are thrilled to be on the biggest stage of women’s college soccer.
“We’ve worked hard this season and we’re ready to win,” Burroughs said.
Anderson, a defender, has played in ten games this season. Burroughs, a midfielder and forward, has played in 18 games, scored a goal against Auburn and picked up two assists against Tulsa. Anderson and Burroughs said the 2017 season has been a great learning experience, especially as the Bulls are having one of the most successful seasons in program history.
“It’s definitely improved my mindset as a player,” Anderson said.
Before beating FGCU, the players said the highlight of 2017 was helping the Bulls bring home their first conference championship. That came in Nov. 5’s American Athletic Conference title game against No. 8 University of Central Florida and this “War on I-4” rivalry game was as thrilling as they come.
Neither team could break an 0-0 tie in regulation or overtime, but the Bulls stayed strong and picked up the title — and NCAA bid — by outscoring the Knights, 5-3, in penalty kicks.
“I just think it’s a really great accomplishment for our team … it’s just a matter of us showing we can do much more than we already did,” Burroughs said.
The Nov. 11 matchup with FGCU was important for the Bulls beyond just being the first round of the College Cup tournament. In the Bulls’ last NCAA appearance, 2015, the Eagles knocked USF out with a 1-0 win. Anderson remembered it well, as she watched the game while at Durant.
“I was watching that game before I came here and I just think everyone wants to win and prove everyone wrong,” she said.
Anderson, Burroughs and the Bulls will look to continue proving doubters wrong against the No. 16 Gators tonight in Gainesville. Florida (15-6), which finished third in the Southeastern Conference and made the SEC tournament semifinal, is coming off of a 3-1 win over South Alabama in the first round of NCAA action. Making things interesting for the game is the return of Florida leading scorer Deanne Rose, who missed the first round to play with the Canadian national team in friendlies.
But the Bulls are ready for whatever happens.
“I think we can get pretty far into the tournament,” Burroughs said. “We’ve really prepared for it. It’s just a matter of us being focused.”