USF Women’s Soccer Blanks No.4 Seed Washington 2-0 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament

USF women’s soccer advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament after incredible performances by seniors Evelyne Viens and Sydney Martinez as they rout four seed Washington 2-0.

Evelyne Viens captured her fourth straight multi-score game with goals in the 25th and 51st minute to give USF a comfortable 2-0 lead over the Huskies. Her first goal came off an assist off of sophomore Syndy Nasello, where Viens barely beat the fingertips of the Washington goalkeeper to give USF a 1-0 lead. Nasello has regifted a point in four straight games, getting 10 points in that time frame.

In the second half, Viens wasted no time doubling the lead for the Bulls, beating two Husky defenders to the ball in the box where all three players were tripped up. Viens was the first one up and slotted a shot to the back of the net to give USF a 2-0 lead.

On the other side of the pitch, senior Sydney Martinez had a stellar performance in net for the Bulls, collecting a season-high seven saves to preserve her sixth clean sheet of the season.

Washington had an opportunity to cut into the lead in the 76th minute when the referee awarded the Huskies a penalty kick. However, Martinez was not to be denied another shutout, as she dove to her right blocking the shot to keep Washington off the board.

For the first time this season, USF was outshot by the opponent with Washington holding a 14-10 shot advantage over the Bulls. USF has held a +211 shot advantage over their opponents this season prior to this game.

The Bulls will stay in Tallahasee as they face no. 1 seed FSU on Sunday at 1 p.m., a rematch of last season’s second round game where the Bulls lost to FSU 3-1 to end their season.