USF Women’s Soccer Cruises Past UF 4-2 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

USF women’s soccer traveled to Gainesville on Friday and got a 4-2 statement victory over UF in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The first half was kept quiet up until the final few minutes, with most of the action happening in the midfield. However, in the 43rd minute, USF got their breakthrough when star striker Evelyne Viens took a pass from Rosalia Muino Gonzalez to give the visitors a 1-0 victory going into halftime.

The Bulls dominated the first half of play, outshooting the Gators 12-5 with Viens having seven of those shots. USF would continue the momentum into the second half, with Viens scoring in the 52nd and 55th minute giving USF a 3-0 lead on Gainesville. With the hat trick, Viens now holds the record for most hat tricks in a career at USF, as well as the single season goal scoring record at USF and in the AAC.

Florida would try to claw their way back into the game with a goal being scored in the 62nd minute. However, USF got an insurance goal late when Fanny Pelletier-Laroche scored off a corner kick from Andrea Hauksdottir to give the Bulls a 4-1 advantage in the 84th minute. The Gators would get one more goal, coming in the 86th minute, but it was too little too late as the final whistle blew a few minutes later.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Martinez got the start in net for USF, where she collected six saves on the evening. Hauksdottir recorded two assists, with Sydny Nasello and Aubrey Megrath recording one assist a piece.

With tonight’s victory, USF will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they will take on the winner of Seattle University and No. 4 Washington. The game time is TBD in Tallahassee.