TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 21, 2021 – The University of South Florida women's soccer team maintained its first-place position in the American Athletic Conference standings with a 2-0 win over Cincinnati on Thursday night.
 
With the win and Memphis' loss to Houston tonight, the Bulls control their own destiny for the American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and hosting rights for the AAC Tournament.  
 
Sydny Nasello (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) tallied a brace in the game, her fourth career game with multiple goals and second this season. Sydney Martinez (Rincon, Ga.) posted her fifth shutout of the season with a pair of saves in the game.
 
The Bulls grabbed the lead early. Nasello dribbled into the box and drew a foul to set up a penalty-kick. The Cincinnati goalkeeper guessed incorrectly and Nasello sank the shot to put the Bulls up 1-0 in the 20^th minute.
 
After taking the 1-0 lead into halftime, the Bulls kept the pressure going into the second frame. Just seven minutes into the period, Nasello forced a Bearcat turnover and found herself with a shooting lane. She turned the opportunity into a goal, netting her tenth of the year to give USF a 2-0 lead.
 
While Cincinnati would try to even the score, the Bulls' defensive efforts held and USF took the victory, 2-0.
 
Notables

• Martinez is four shutouts away from breaking the program record for career shutouts, currently set at 24 shutouts by Katarina Elliott (2014-17).
• Nasello now has sole possession of No. 7 on USF's all-time goals list with 23.

 
Up Next
USF plays in the final game of the regular season next Thursday in Philadelphia. Kickoff in the game against Temple is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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 eight consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins and nine in the last 10 years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and returned in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. South Florida has won four consecutive conference championships, earning the tournament title in 2017, 2019 and 2020 as well as the regular-season title in 2018 and 2020. The program had its first draft pick and second-highest pick in USF Athletics history with Evelyne Viens being taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft by Sky Blue FC, now Gotham FC.

-#GoBulls-