TAMPA, Nov. 10, 2018 – Behind a five-person scoring effort, No. 20/17 USF defeated Albany 5-1 on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Corbett Stadium. The Bulls advance to the second round for just the third time in program history, where the USF will play No. 5/4 Florida State on Friday in Tallahassee, Fla. 

 

The Bulls advanced to 15-3-0 when Junior Aubrey Megrath (West Palm Beach, Fla.) opened the scoring in the 26^th minute. She accepted a quick pass from Evelyne Viens (L’ancienne-Lorette, Canada) who was taken down by Albany defenders mid-pass, and scored from the top of the box to get the Bulls up 1-0. 

 

Not eight minutes later, defender Kelli Burney (Bealeton, Va.) made a long pass to Viens, who was double-teamed all night, and got a shot off before she was once again taken to the ground by defenders, but scored on the shot and put USF up 2-0 to wrap up the first half.

 

In the 53^rd minute, Sydny Nasello (Land O’ Lakes, Fla.), assisted by Sabrina Wagner (New Port Richey, Fla.) and Viens, kicked off the scoring for the Bulls with a centerfield strike and scored under pressure to give USF the 3-0 advantage. USF extended its lead in the 73^rd minute when Leah Ferlin (Jacksonville, Fla.) was in perfect position to head in the goal on a chip from Olivia Cooke who accepted a long cross from Nasello, setting up Ferlin for her third goal of the season.

 

Albany (14-7-2, 5-2-1 AE) got on the board in the 76^th minute when Savanah Courtney headed in a goal to cut USF’s lead for the senior’s first career goal, but Albany ended their 2018 campaign at Corbett Stadium.

 

Jordan Tuttle (Yardley, Pa.,) scored her first goal of the season for USF’s fifth and final goal at Corbett Stadium this season when she punched in the ball in the 75^th minute, on passes from Ferlin and Rebekah Anderson (Valrico, Fla.).

 

USF’s defense held Albany to just seven shots on the night, with only two coming on frame, one of which goalkeeper Sydney Martinez (Rincon, Ga.) saved.

Quotable

 

Notable

• USF outshot Albany 21-7 on the night, and outmatched the Great Danes in shots on goal 11-to-2.
• USF has now scored 15 NCAA tournament goals
• The Bulls are 3-4-0 in NCAA tournament play
• USF’s trip to Tallahassee will be its third appearance in the second round, and second tournament trip to Tallahassee
• Three of USF’s goal scorers also had assists including Viens, Nasello and Ferlin
• USF saw five different goal-scorers
• Tuttle’s goal was her first of the season

 

Up Next

USF will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on No. 5/4 Florida State on Friday, the game time has yet to be determined.

 

About USF Women's Soccer
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 six consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins and eight in the last nine years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and returned in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
 

-#GoBulls-