Colleges: Bulls quickly put poor week behind them

TAMPA – While No.12 South Florida is coming off its first winless week of the season, the side has already put the results last week against Louisville and St. John’s behind them.

“The past is the past, and we’re moving on one day at a time around here,” Bulls midfielder Zak Boggs said.

Bulls coach George Kiefer said the loss to Louisville was a little bit similar to the Bulls first loss of the season on the road at West Virginia. The Bulls weren’t able to establish their game and instead gave the Cardinals the opportunity to play the game they wanted to.

“Somewhat similar, but not identical,” Kiefer said. “I think it’s important we know who we are, and play like South Florida plays. I think that game at Louisville was played more like how Louisville likes to play, so that’s us not taking control of that, and I feel like now that we’ve been through that, we recognize that, and we just make it a priority that games feel and play like we like them to play.”

Boggs said he thought the Bulls didn’t play to the best of their ability against either Louisville or St. John’s, but couldn’t put his finger on a specific reason why.

“There’s a number of factors that go into things,” Boggs said. “We trained hard and we try to look at the best we can, we never take anyone too lightly, we never take anyone too seriously, I don’t really have an explanation for it.”

Kiefer said he hoped the pair of tough games would prepare the Bulls for the stretch run.

“When we met August 14, we didn’t say we’d have an easy journey to where we wanted to go,” Kiefer said. “I think the adversity can only help us and the way I see the guys responding, I think it’ll make us stronger in the end.”

OWLS VISIT: South Florida faces Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night, and is anticipating a good game from the Owls.

“We like Florida Atlantic in that they play soccer,” Kiefer said. “They’re going to come here and try to beat us, they won’t come and sit in, they’ll go after us. They have talented players, even for the crowd, it should be a good soccer game. It always is.”

FAU has former Jesuit standout Xavi Pecora and Gaither’s Darnell King among the local players on its roster, King leading the team with six points (two goals, two assists) in seven starts.