TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 14, 2021 – The University of South Florida women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to NC State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, ending its 2021 campaign.
 
While Sydney Martinez (Rincon, Ga.) made three saves in the match, NC State's defense kept the Bulls off the board to earn a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., for a second-round matchup against Pepperdine.
 
NC State grabbed the lead in the first half. A full-length of the field play resulted in Annika Wohner finding herself alone behind USF's Sydney Martinez, and she sunk the shot to get the 1-0 lead in the 24^th minute.
 
Emerging from the break with the 1-0 lead, NC State added an insurance goal in the 51^st minute as Jameese Joseph beat a defender and found the back of the net to push the Wolfpacks' lead to 2-0.
 
While USF's offense challenged the Wolfpack's backline throughout the half, NC State's Maria Echezarreta made two saves, including a diving stop on Sydny Nasello (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) in the 67^th minute, to earn the shutout.
 
Notables

• This is USF's first loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament since 2015.
• USF had five players play all 90 minutes in the game.

 
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 five consecutive seasons with a conference championship, earning the tournament title in 2017, 2019 and 2020 as well as the regular-season title in 2018, 2020 and 2021. 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-