WOMEN'S SOCCER HEADS FOR A WEEKEND IN THE EMPIRE STATE

TAMPA - The University of South Florida women’s soccer team will once again be on the road this weekend. The Bulls will travel north for a pair of conference match-ups starting Friday, Oct. 10 at Syracuse starting at 7 p.m. and then Sun. Oct. 12, at St. John’s with a noon kick-off. USF comes into the weekend with a 6-3-3 record overall and a 2-2-1 BIG EAST record and are in third place in the BIG EAST American Division, only a game behind division-leading Marquette. The Bulls hope to keep the momentum rolling after their 1-0 victory at DePaul last Sunday, as freshman Chelsea Klotz put away the game-winner in the 73rd minute to give the Bulls their first BIG EAST road win of the season. Junior goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi has been outstanding in goal all season for USF, stopping a BIG EAST best 78 shots this season for an average of 6.50 saves per game. Lofton-Malachi has played every second of every game and in her1195 minutes has only allowed .68 goals per game. She has a save percentage of .897, which ranks seventh in the country. Her 78 saves are fifth most in a season in USF history with four regular season games to play. Her six shutouts are good for second in the league behind St. John’s Kristin Russell, and one more shutout will set the USF record for most shutouts in a season. Offensively, Klotz leads the way with four goals on a team best 36 shots. The Bulls have outscored their opponents by an 11-9 margin. With two conference wins already this season, USF’s next win will tie them for the most conference wins since joining the BIG EAST conference in 2006. Syracuse will come into the game with a record of 4-5-2 and on a two game losing streak after dropping a 3-0 decision at Villanova and an 8-0 loss to West Virginia. The Orange has outshot their opponents by a 126-108 margin but has been outscored 21-12. Megan Bellingham leads the Orange with six goals. In goal for the Orange expect to see Elizabeth Bennett-Hattan who has started all 11 games. She has given up 19 goals while making 35 saves. In three meetings all-time, the Bulls are 1-2 against the Orange. Last year, Bulls came away with a 1-0 shutout of the Orange at USF Soccer Stadium. St. John’s comes into the weekend with a 4-3-4 record and are 0-2-2 in conference action. The Redstorm will play host to Marquette on Friday before hosting the Bulls. The Redstorm have lost two in a row, after they were blanked at Villanova, 3-0, and shutout by Pittsburgh, 1-0. St. John’s has been outscored 6-5 on the season and outshot by a 149-107 margin. St. John’s is led offensively by Amanda Santos who has two goals and an assist on the season. In goal for the Redstorm will be Kristin Russell who in 980 minutes has only four goals while registering 57 saves. She is 4-3-4 on the season with seven shutouts. The Bulls are 2-1 all-time against the Redstorm. Last season, the Bulls tallied a 4-2 win at USF Soccer Stadium. After this weekend, the Bulls will be home at USF Soccer Stadium for the rest of the regular season starting with the Cincinnati Bearcats on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and then will welcome Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Noon.