{"id":409936,"date":"2026-09-25T03:20:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T03:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/409936\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T03:20:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T03:20:13","slug":"south-florida-womens-soccer-earns-1-1-draw-with-memphis-behind-rourkes-career-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/409936\/","title":{"rendered":"South Florida Women\u2019s Soccer Earns 1-1 Draw with Memphis Behind Rourke\u2019s Career Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, FLA. (September 24, 2026)\u00a0\u2013 The South Florida women’s soccer team battled Memphis (4-3-2, 1-0-1 AC) to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night at Corbett Stadium in a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU. The Bulls (2-4-3, 0-0-2 AC) overcame a one-goal halftime deficit with a second-half equalizer from freshman McKenna Battilla<\/a>, while Gaby Rourke<\/a> recorded a career-high 11 saves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The preseason favorite and defending American regular-season champion, Memphis controlled possession throughout much of the opening half and outshot the Bulls 12-0. Rourke made a save on a Memphis shot in the third minute before the Tigers created another opportunity in the 12th\u00a0minute, but Rourke was there again to make the save.<\/p>\n

Memphis broke through in the 26th\u00a0minute when Abby Forsgren found the back of the net off assists from Zerina Markovic and Ai Kitagawa. The Tigers carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime, with Rourke recording four saves in the opening 45 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

South Florida came out of the half with renewed energy, quickly shifting the momentum in its favor. Just six minutes into the half, Sophia Cabral<\/a> played a pass to Yui Suetsugu<\/a>, who found Battilla just outside the box. Battilla fired a shot into the net for her second goal of the season and the Bulls’ first goal of the night.<\/p>\n

The goal marked South Florida’s first shot of the night, and the team finished with just two shots to Memphis’ 25.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the match level, Rourke kept the Bulls in the game, making save after save as Memphis searched for a second goal. With 18 minutes remaining, Mihiro Furuya sent a shot toward the goal, but Rourke made a diving save to preserve the 1-1 score.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Four minutes later, Battilla nearly gave the Bulls the game-winning goal when she shot toward the side of the net, but Memphis goalkeeper Ava Galani recorded her first save of the night to keep the match even.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Neither team could find a game-winning goal in the final minutes as South Florida secured its second consecutive conference draw and moved to 0-0-2 in American Conference play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nNote-A-Bulls
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\n\tGaby Rourke<\/a> played all 90 minutes in goal for the Bulls, facing 12 shots on goal and recording a career-high 11 saves.\u00a0
\n\tRourke posted a .917 save percentage.\u00a0
\n\tMcKenna Battilla<\/a> scored her second goal of the season and has now scored the Bulls’ only goal in each of their last two matches. She scored South Florida’s lone goal in last week’s 1-1 draw at North Texas before finding the net again against Memphis.\u00a0
\n\tBattilla recorded both Bulls’ shots against Memphis, including the equalizer\u00a0
\n\tSophia Cabral<\/a> recorded her second assist of the season
\n\tYui Suetsugu<\/a> recorded her third assist of the season
\n\tElyse Thornton<\/a>, Ellie Pitts<\/a>, Regan Kelly<\/a>, and Jada Alexander<\/a> each played all 90 minutes for the Bulls.
\n\tSouth Florida’s all-time series record against Memphis now stands at 15-8-3.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Up Next\u00a0
\nThe Bulls have the weekend off and will return to action next Thursday, Oct. 1, on the road against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Follow South Florida Women’s Soccer

\nFor the latest updates from South Florida Women’s Soccer, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow the Bulls on\u00a0Facebook,<\/a>\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, and\u00a0X,<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get your tickets today!

\nCall 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the South Florida Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.<\/p>\n

About South Florida Women’s Soccer

\nChris Brown<\/a>\u00a0enters his third season as USF head coach after a record-setting debut in 2024, leading the Bulls to 12 wins and coaching both the American Athletic Conference Midfielder and Goalkeeper of the Year.\u00a0South Florida produced six all-conference players. He recorded the most wins in a debut season with 12 wins. Brown followed that success by guiding the Bulls to a 9-8-3 overall record and a trip to the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals in 2025, as South Florida earned a first-round tournament victory and secured three selections to the American Athletic Conference Preseason Watch List entering 2026.\u00a0Brown spent 17 years as associate head coach (2007\u20132023), helping USF to three American Athletic Conference titles, eight NCAA appearances, and a 10-year streak of 10+ win seasons. He coached USF’s first All-American, Evelyne Viens, now a Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist, and has developed multiple American Athletic Conference award winners. Players under his guidance hold most of the program’s records.<\/p>\n

\u2013\u00a0#GoBulls\u00a0\u2013

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