NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies

Tampa Bay Rowdies to Visit USF in Annual Preseason Match

Published on January 25, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rowdies will make their annual visit to Corbett Stadium on University of South Florida's Tampa campus Saturday, March 5 for an exhibition match against the Bulls.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Bulls have squared off each Spring since 2011. The Rowdies won last year's matchup 4-1.

The match will kick off at 7 p.m. following a children's soccer clinic for 200 youth players conducted by staff from both the Rowdies and USF. Tickets for both the match and clinic are available here. Registration for the clinic will begin at USF's soccer facility at 5 p.m. with the clinic running from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This match will mark a homecoming for former USF star Ben Sweat, entering his second season with the Rowdies. Sweat, from nearby Palm Harbor, played four seasons for the Bulls and was drafted 14th overall in the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

USF, coached by George Kiefer, went 11-3-6 (W-T-L) last season, finishing second in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls lost 2-1 in overtime to Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 2015 marked USF's eighth NCAA tournament berth in the last nine years, including two appearances in the Elite Eight and three trips to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Bulls' leading scorer from 2015, Nazeem Bartman, is set to feature in the match following an eight-goal season last year. Starting goalkeeper Spasoje Stefanovic is also set to play against the Rowdies after earning a spot on the All-AAC second team last year with a 0.86 goals-against average.

Additional Rowdies preseason matches will be announced in the near future. Tampa Bay's preseason campaign kicks off February 13 at home at Al Lang Stadium against D.C. United. Tickets to that match are complimentary to 2016 Season Ticket Holders. For the general public, tickets are available at (727) 222-2000.

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