USF Athletics

Bulls Clinch Spot in Championship Match with 1-0 Win over SMU

November 03, 2017

ORLANDO (Nov. 3, 2017) — Sophomore forward Evelyne Viens (L'ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada) scored the game-winning goal in the 34^th minute to clinch the USF women's soccer team's spot in the American Athletic Conference championship match on Sunday. 
 
Both USF and SMU battled in the Friday evening match, but the Bulls shut down every attempt to score by SMU. Viens (L'ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada) forced a turnover in the first half and battled past two defenders to send the game-winner in off the left post in the first half.
 
The Bulls (12-3-1) had an impressive match both offensively and defensively with 17 shots, holding SMU to only two. The USF defense was relentless with forced turnovers and kept SMU out of scoring position by not allowing a single shot on goal during the match.   
 
Quotable
Evelyne Viens on the victory:
"We had a good game, we just want to come here and win the conference on Sunday."
 
Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown on the Bulls' performance against a tough opponent:
"I give a lot of credit to Coach Petrucelli. I mean, how great was their goalie? She probably robbed Evelyne three times. They kept us on our toes the whole time, and I'm really proud of the girls. Now it's just about recovery and we've been talking about the championship all year, so I'm glad we have the opportunity to go for it."
 
Schilte-Brown on the defense:
"I thought they were very brave. Great positioning for each other. I was really proud of them."
 
Schilte-Brown on her expectations for Sunday…
"I expect the very best from them. They have been working very hard, and I think physically we're peaking, which is what you want to do at this time. We are a good team, and it's hard to beat a good team twice. They are going to have to give us everything, and it's going to be a great game. It always is."
 
Key Stat

1. The USF defense didn't allow a single shot on goal the entire match.

 
Notables

• The Bulls clinched a spot in Sunday's championship match. They will face the winner of No.1 UCF vs. No. 4 Memphis
• This will be the Bulls' third trip to the American Athletic Conference finals.
• Viens scored her 11^th goal this season, 27^th in her career.
• Viens had five shots, four on goal.
• USF had seven corner kicks while SMU had just one.

 
Up Next
The Bulls will take on the winner of UCF vs. Memphis on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the American Athletic Conference Championship. The match will air on ESPNews

 
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.
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