South Florida women fall to Marquette

TAMPA -- The University of South Florida women's soccer (5-2-1, 0-1-0 in the Big East) team opened Big East play with a 2-1 loss to the Golden Eagles of Marquette Friday evening at the USF Soccer Stadium. The game marked the sixth consecutive season that the Bulls have opened against Marquette to start the Big East portion of their schedule.

The Bulls came into the contest looking to defeat the Golden Eagles for the first time since 2006 and avenge a 2-1 double-overtime loss last season in Milwaukee.

The Bulls nearly scored two and a half minutes into the game after Valorie O'Brien had her shot blocked from point blank range by Marquette goal keeper Natalie Kulla. O'Brien gathered a loose ball in the six yard box off of a USF free kick from about twenty-five yards away but was unable to put it past Kulla.

That would prove to be the Bulls best chance of the half as the Golden Eagles controlled play from there outshooting the Bulls 5-2 in the opening session.

Marquette's Ashley Bares converted on an easy tap in goal coming off a corner kick taken by Lindsey Page to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0 at the 32:30 mark.

USF would have one more scoring chance with just less than ten minutes left in the first half. Taylor Patterson sent a low ball into the box that nearly crossed the goal line before being cleared by the Marquette defense.

The Bulls would gain back some momentum fifteen minutes into the second half on a Taylor Patterson goal. Patterson deflected a Venicia Reid cross into the net to beat a diving Kulla and tie the game up at one.

The tie was short lived however, as Taylor Madigan scored the eventual for the Golden Eagles four minutes later. Ashley Bares sent in a low cross that bounced around in the USF box before Madigan eventually buried it in the back of the net and to Marquette back on top 2-1 for good.

The Bulls fought to try and tie the game but were unable to generate any quality scoring opportunities for the remainder of the match.

Marquette outshot USF 12-6  for the match and out cornered the Bulls, 7-0.

Nicole McClure made two saves for the Bulls in the loss.

The Bulls next match will be at home on Thursday, September 23 against Pittsburgh where they will look for their first win in Big East play in a match that will be televised live on the Bright House Sports Network.