USF women’s soccer saw a historic scoring surge to begin season

USF broke the record for most shots in a game at Corbett Stadium with 40 shots on goal in their game against the Jaguars. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO

USF’s women’s soccer team has been on a scoring spree to start its 2024 season, making at least four goals in three of its last four games.

It’s the first time the Bulls (3-1-1) have scored four or more goals in three straight games since 2010.

The Bulls are also 20th in the NCAA in terms of shots per game this season, averaging 20.60. USF has 9.80 shots on goal per game, which ties for 15th place nationally.

Here’s what you need to know about USF’s season so far.

USF has won three of its last four games except one against Kansas, which ended in a tie. The Jayhawks (2-1-2) are ranked 12th in the Big 12 conference.

The team’s first game proved to be a challenge as they faced the Seminoles, the defending National Champions, on Aug. 15. The match was also Chris Brown’s debut as head coach after being promoted from assistant coach in November.

Brown is also married to Denise Schilte-Brown, the team’s former head coach.

“They are the No. 1 team in tUSF women’s soccer on a historic scoring surge to begin seasonhe country,” said Brown in a postgame interview about Florida State. “I knew we were going to have our hands full.”

Though the game turned out to be a 5-0 loss for the Bulls, the team went on to win three straight games after – with two of them ending in a shutout.

USF senior defender Georgia Brown scored the first goal of the season in the victory against Jacksonville on Aug.18. And her work didn’t go unnoticed – she was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 26.

While USF had 21 shots with nine shots on goal, Jacksonville only had one of two shots on goal the whole match. The game ended with a 5-1 score.

Three days later, the Bulls took on the Jaguars for the first time since 2019. In this match, USF broke the record for most shots in a game at Corbett Stadium with 40 shots on goal.

The previous mark was 39 set against Alabama A&M back in 2011

This was their first shutout win of the season, with USF finishing 5-0.

“It was a good game for the players,” coach Brown said after the game on Aug. 21. “We got to get a lot of players’ time. We’re trying to build chemistry and continuity, and this allows us with our newer players to get valuable minutes.”

The team then dominated FGCU with a 4-0 victory on Aug. 25 with its second shutout. The Bulls prevented FGCU from taking any shots on goal in the first half while having seven shots on goal themselves. In the second half, USF scored four goals to secure the win.

After coming off of two straight shutouts, USF’s first away game ended in a tie. Georgia Brown scored the first goal against the Jayhawks with under 2 minutes left on the clock ending in 1-1.

“I’m extremely proud of this entire group of players and staff tonight,” coach Brown said on Aug. 29. “This was a very athletic and direct opponent that made it very challenging to play our brand of soccer. But our group adapted and never quit pushing for a result. It’s about progress, not perfection.”

USF and UCF will meet for the 24th time on Thursday. The Bulls are 3-5-1 at home against the Knights.