Colleges: Bulls confidence high entering final weekend

For the University of South Florida’s womens soccer team, confidence has been the key to the season.

Even when the Bulls came out on the wrong end of results early in the season, there was a belief that ran through the team that their fortunes would change and wins would come.

Now, entering the final week of the season, the wins have arrived. Sitting at 5-2-2 in the Big East, and tied with Marquette for the lead in the American division, the Bulls confidence is high as it enters Friday’s game at St. John's on a three-game winning streak. According the Bulls coach Denise Schilte-Brown, the more the side has won, the more confident it has become.

“Every win is a reinforcement of your hard work and your belief in what you’re doing,” Schilte-Brown said. “There’s no bigger reward than getting that ‘W’, so as high as your confidence is, and as much as we believe in ourselves, it just continues to help with that. I think it’s an important part of being successful is to have confidence and belief.”

A player who has exemplified this has been freshman defender Alexandra ‘Boo’ Eagle. Named to the Big East honor roll this week, Eagle has started 14 of the Bulls 16 games this season, and has been a critical component in the Bulls defense as she has made the transition from high-level youth soccer to college almost seamlessly.

“I think it’s just been her approach to everything,” Schilte-Brown said when asked about Eagle’s success. “She’s just a confident, laid-back kind of kid. I don’t think she asks too many questions, or gets too worked up about anything, she just listens to what you said and tries to apply it without putting too much pressure on herself.”

Chelsea Klotz was also named to the honor roll after scoring twice against Cincinnati, including the game-winning goal in overtime, in a 2-1 victory. Playing at St. John’s – and its artificial turf playing surface – on Friday afternoon, Schilte-Brown thinks Klotz will continue to find success.

“I think her confidence is up there and she’s very aware that she’s getting on the board and scoring those points,” Schilte-Brown said. “I think she feels really good about that, and we’re excited. She’s a very good player on turf, and St. John’s plays on turf, and that seems to be an area where Chelsea excels so I think she’s excited about that.”

As is the rest of the Bulls squad to have the opportunity to win its first Big East American division title this weekend. A pair of victories could give Schilte-Brown and her squad a prize they’ve been looking for since the beginning of the season.

“We feel very good,” Schilte-Brown said. “Excellent week (of practice), very sharp. The girls look ready.”

Colleges: Klotz, Eagle earn Big East honors

South Florida’s Chelsea Klotz and Boo Eagle were both been named to the Big East Honor Roll on Monday after helping the Bulls to two wins over the weekend, pushing the Bulls into second place in the Big East American division.

Klotz scored twice against Cincinnati on Sunday, including the game-winner in overtime, putting her tied for the team lead with seven goals.

Eagle, a freshman, played every minute of both wins against Louisville and Cincinnati, anchoring a Bulls defense that conceded only one goal over the pair of games.

South Florida is tied on points with first-placed Marquette in the American division, but the Golden Eagles hold the tiebreaker over the Bulls after their 2-1 win when the teams met earlier in the season.

The Bulls close the regular season with a final pair of road games this weekend, facing St. John’s on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. and Syracuse on Sunday at noon.

Colleges: Eagle, Pineiro key Bulls' victory

South Florida’s womens soccer team made a major statement, and may have turned a major corner in their season, as the Bulls earned their first ever win against West Virginia. An early goal by Boo Eagle put the Bulls on top, and Noelle Pineiro scored her sixth goal of the season in a 2-1 victory at the USF Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Eagle’s first goal as a Bull came in the fourth minute as she controlled a free kick by Pineiro and fired her left-footed shot into the net.

The Mountaineers, playing with the wind at their backs, held the bulk of play in the Bulls half before halftime, but were unable to find a way past Bulls goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi.

Pineiro doubled the Bulls lead with 12 minutes to go, taking a pass from Chelsea Klotz before driving home her shot from 13 yards. Pineiro’s goal proved to important as West Virginia pulled a goal back five minutes later, Carolyn Blank heading home from Nicole Mailloux’s corner.

The Mountaineers were unable to tie the game, though, allowing the Bulls to earn their first Big East win of the season, and even their record overall.

“Today was a great win for our program,” Bulls head coach Denise Schilte-Brown said. “We have had some chances to beat some good teams but couldn't close it out so it was good to close the match out. For us to beat a program like West Virginia really gives the team a lot of confidence.”