USF Athletics

TAMPA (Nov. 11, 2017) — The USF women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second time in program history with a 3-0 shutout win over FGCU at Corbett Stadium on Saturday.
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown's Bulls were ready to get redemption from the first-round loss to FGCU in 2015 and grabbed the lead 18 minutes into the match.
 
Freshman Sabrina Wagner (New Port Ritchey, Fla.) sent a pass to sophomore Evelyne Viens (L'ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada), who was battling defenders at the top of the box. Viens turned and shot past the reach of the FGCU keeper into the lower right corner of the net.
 
USF's defense denied the Eagles of close chances throughout the match, allowing just three shots on goal in 90 minutes.
 
The Bulls went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage, but didn't show any signs of slowing down as they kicked off the second half. Viens drove down the field immediately, but was stopped by the keeper as she entered the box.
 
In the 79^th minute, the Bulls were holding possession in their attacking third when they were awarded a corner kick, taken by sophomore Andrea Hauksdottir (Kopavogur, Iceland). The Ball found the foot of Viens who turned to shoot, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper. As both teams lunged for the ball, freshman Leah Ferlin (Jacksonville, Fla.) sent it deep into the net to double USF's lead.
 
Ahead, 2-0, The Bulls weren't ready to slow down. Sophomore Aubrey Megrath scored her sixth goal of the season in the 83^rd minute. Megrath picked up a pass from Viens and dribbled into the box, where she beat the keeper on a one-on-one opportunity.
 
Quotable
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on the win…
"It was one of these games where I really felt like we had the talent to win the game, and I knew our team had a great opportunity, but you can't not reflect on two years ago. Having them at your house, and feeling just as confident having a great team two years ago as well. The team showed up and was ready to play, and they performed well. I'm really, really proud of them."
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on the young team…
"It's great senior leadership. Selfless senior leadership. That's really important first. I think the FGCU coach said it the best when he was disappointed that Kelli Burney and Evelyne are sophomores. I think that's a great compliment to our team. They don't want to see them in the future. That's a real compliment.
 
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown on advancing…
This group has been really fun, really in it. I didn't want it to end this weekend. I am really excited that it didn't, and I don't think we are going to be done on Friday.
 
Elliott on the in-state rivalry…
"I think to play a team where we both can compete and both play 90 minutes, Florida Gulf Coast is a very fit team, I think we handled it well. I think we pressed more than they did, and I think we had the urge to win more than they did, and we ended up with the victory."
 
Senior midfielder Jessica Hamrick on the unbeaten streak…
"We started out the season with a good schedule, and I think we learned from every game we played. We had a couple challenges in there, but every single game we learned. I'm very proud of this team. It's a young group, but as seniors we have kind of instilled the knowledge and tried to teach the younger ones everything and how to be competitive. They've done really well. I think we have really come together as a team."
 
Viens on her hard work
"I am just trying to do what I'm able to do. If I can score every game, I'll do it, or if I can just pass the ball. I just do what I can do with the ball, and use my speed and use my feet and just put the ball in the back of the net. I think we can do so much better next week, we have a great opponent in front of us and I think we can beat them if we work as a team."
 
Watch the full press conference:


Key Stat
10 – USF is on a 10-match unbeaten streak. The Bulls haven't lost a match since Sept. 24.
 
Notables

• Viens scored her 12^th goal of the season, 28^th of her career. She also tallied assists on the other two goals in the match.
• The only other second-round appearance for USF was in 2010 against Auburn.
• USF outshot FGCU, 17-8.
• Viens led with five shots, four on target.
• Wagner recorded her fifth assist of the season.
• Senior Kat Elliott (Bradenton, Fla.) had three saves.

 
Up Next
USF will face Florida on Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The time and location are still to be determined.

 
Be sure to follow USF women's soccer on social media (Twitter / Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF women's soccer team has posted five consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins and six in the last seven years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. Schilte-Brown reached her 100^th win with USF last season, and will begin her eleventh season as head coach in 2017. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and returned in 2014 & 2015.
-#GoBulls-