Number in parenthesis denotes TopDrawerSoccer.com preseason college ranking. See complete rankings here.

(9) South Florida RECAP

Last season: Finished 15-5-3, 7-3-1 in Big East Red Conference
Result: Was second in regular season standings; defeated St. John's in conference tourney final; fell to Wake Forest in third round of NCAAs.
Head coach: George Kiefer
Key Returners: F Zak Boggs (Sr.), GK Jeff Attinella (Jr.),
Key Subtractions: D Yohance Marshall, MF Kevon Neaves, Jordan Seabrook

2009 TEAM PREVIEW

The way the South Florida Bulls ended last season may very well fuel how they start this one.

A 5-0 defeat by Wake Forest left a sour taste to what was otherwise a triumphant year. In an ultra-competitive conference, the Bulls stood out and knocked off powerhouse St. John's in the conference tournament final.

South Florida has the personnel to make a similar mark in the 2009-10 campaign, and much will be expected of them. A trio of big-time contributors have departed in all conference first-teamers Yohance Marshall and Kevon Neaves along with striker Jordan Seabrook.

Seabrook was especially important to the team’s attack, but the Bulls finished atop the conference in assists a year ago speaking to the team’s collective chemistry under coach George Kiefer.

Leading the cohesive nucleus is senior midfielder Francisco Aristeguieta, a team captain who scored twice during the team’s conference tourney semifinal game a year ago. Forward Zak Boggs was second on the team with five goals and five assists and will be another senior stabilizer.

Jeff Attinella is a well-rated junior goalkeeper who had 10 of the team’s 12 shutouts in 2008, a school record for shutouts in one season.

The Bulls will also bring in a talented class that includes guys like Miami FC star Alvaro Bastidas, a midfielder.

With a core of returners at the forefront, Bastidas and the rest of the newcomers might be doing more learning from afar than by trial and error. Either way, South Florida fields a team this year that is worth taking notice.