By SEAN BAROWS

GoUSFBulls.com

TAMPA - The USF men's soccer team is getting set to host its annual rivalry match against the University of Tampa for the Rowdies Cup 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Corbett Stadium.

USF is coming off of a 1-0 victory over St. Leo in its first exhibition game on Tuesday and will be looking to avenge last season's loss to the Spartans.

The two schools first played each other in 1972, a game that the Bulls won 9-2. USF holds the all-time series lead with a 16-8-3 record against their cross-town rival, including a 6-1-1 record since the series resumed in 2005.

Even though the game has only been played during the preseason since 2005 it means much more to both teams than your ordinary exhibition match because of all the history between the two schools and the Rowdies franchise.

“You're here a week and you understand how important the Rowdies are to this community,” head coach George Kiefer said.

The Rowdies Cup, formerly known as the Mayor's Cup, celebrates the Tampa Bay Rowdies' 1975 NASL championship. The winner of the game gets the honor of hoisting the actual 1975 NASL trophy each year and Kiefer would like nothing better than to bring the trophy back to USF.

“To have a trophy that's named after them, that goes back and forth to the winner is good, but I have a little anxiety in that that trophy has been gone for a year. We're interested in bringing that trophy back to the office, I have a place for it.”

Get Your Season Tickets

Season tickets are on sale for both USF men's and women's soccer for $50 apiece HERE. Fans also can buy a four-person season ticket package for women's soccer at a cost of $100 that includes 11 regular season home games or a four-person season ticket package for men's soccer at a cost of $100 that includes 10 men's contests. 

A season ticket combo for both men's and women's games (general admission $75/family plan $150) also is available by calling 1-800-GoBulls.