Colleges

Soccer coach should rejoice while he can

By GREG AUMAN
Published September 7, 2005

TAMPA - Women's soccer coach Logan Fleck wasn't doing much to celebrate his 100th career victory anyway, but softball coach Ken Eriksen put him in his place Tuesday morning.

"He pops in, says, "One hundred wins, eh? You know what that means? You're just getting older," said Fleck, who got his 100th on Monday night in a 2-0 victory against Stetson.

Basketball and football will get most of the headlines, but soccer might be the Bulls sport making the toughest climb in joining the Big East. Fleck not only has defending national champion Notre Dame coming to Tampa on Oct. 2, but a week earlier the Bulls play host to Connecticut, which beat Notre Dame and won the Big East last year. And they open Big East play at Marquette, which is 4-0 and ranked 20th in one preseason poll.

"It's quantum," Fleck said of the leap his team makes this season. "I feel bad for (men's basketball coach) Robert McCullum, and he feels bad for me. I know Big East basketball, but I know what we have, too. It's like playing Florida 12 times. It's like the NFL, in that every game in this league is a tough one."

Fleck, like men's coach George Kiefer, has reason for optimism in several key newcomers. Just as freshman Jordan Seabrook earned his first hat trick Sunday and earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors for Kiefer's team, Fleck is excited about his new players.

Freshman defender Melanie Sutherland has already made an impact, as has freshman forward Ebony Robinson, who had her first career goal against Stetson. The team should unveil another star this week in sophomore Lindsay Brauer, a transfer from Tennessee who scored 69 goals as a high school senior in Daytona Beach two years ago.

Eriksen's kidding aside, Fleck said he has been inspired by the dedication he has seen from USF's coaches this fall. All of them have bigger challenges with USF's new conference.

"You leave the office at 11:30, you see football coaches in the parking lot," he said. "You come in at 6 a.m. on a Saturday, there are other coaches passing you in the halls. There's a lot of competition and drive just among the coaches in this building."

WELCOME ABOARD: New women's tennis coach Agustin Moreno had his first day on the job Tuesday, eager to start working with a lineup that returns intact from last season.

Moreno's lineup will start with junior Neyssa Etienne and sophomore Courtney Vernon, with a healthy roster for the first time in more than a year. The Bulls have added a coveted international recruit in India's Iciri Rai, a 19-year-old recruited by former coach Gigi Fernandez. Rai, who was awaiting only medical clearance to join the team this week, has played small tournaments in her native country and should provide solid depth for the Bulls.

USF hasn't posted its schedule for the fall, but the Bulls are set to travel to No. 2 Florida Jan. 21.

THIS AND THAT: Florida A&M gave up eight sacks to Delaware State last week, so expect a big game for USF's pass rush against the Rattlers on Saturday. ... Running back Andre Hall, originally credited with 74 yards Saturday, was hit for a 2-yard loss after a statistical error was discovered. Receiver Johnny Peyton had been credited with a 2-yard loss that Hall took on the game's second play. ... Punter Brandon Baker had a huge game, with a 68-yard punt and a strong 45.2 average on eight attempts. Don't forget the touchdown-saving tackle he had on one punt return; Baker had two tackles last year. ... Florida A&M and Central Florida have both agreed to use the Big East's new instant replay system in their games at USF in the next two weeks. ... Bulls coach Jim Leavitt used a timeout Saturday after USF's failed onside kick, hoping to get officials to review the play. Big East coaches can't challenge plays as in the NFL, but they can provide a few extra minutes to consider their options.

Greg Auman covers USF athletics. He can be reached at auman@sptimes.com Check out his "USF Bulletin" blog online at sptimes.com/blogs/usf.

[Last modified September 7, 2005, 01:02:19]