Leilanni Nesbeth and her Florida State Women’s Soccer teammates advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 with a physical 2-1 win over the USF Bulls in Tallahassee.
USF came out hot getting their first and only goal in the fifth minute. The goal came after three early fouls and on USF’s first of four shots in the game. Katie Kitching flicked one into the middle of the box to Aubrey Megrath who finished for her fifth goal of the season.
The Seminoles could not find the back of the net until the 45th minute when Jaelin Howell earned her fifth goal of the season coming off of a Heather Payne assist, her second. It was the Noles fifth shot of the game and came because of Payne’s great hustle. After being challenged on the right side of the box, Payne regained control and passed it off to Howell right outside of the six-yard box. Howell redirected the ball for the equalizer.
There were two early fouls in the second half by USF before Brianna Blethen fouled Gabby Carle in the box to force a penalty kick. Deyna Castellanos stepped in to take the PK and buried it to give the Noles a 2-1 lead that they would go on to maintain for the rest of the game.
