CARY, N.C. – Second-seeded Florida State (18-1-3) secured its second ACC championship in the last three years with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Virginia Tech (16-4-2) in the finals of the ACC Women’s Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon inside WakeMed Park.
The lone goal of the contest came off the foot of Dagny Brynjarsdottir as the junior midfielder found the back of the net in the 36th minute.
“I think someone crossed it and it bounced off a defender,” said Brynjarsdottir on scoring the game-winner. “I kicked it with my right foot in the left corner.”
The goal would hold up after the Seminoles turned in a tremendous defensive effort limiting Virginia Tech to just five shots including two on goal. Senior forward Jazmine Reeves, who scored two goals against Virginia in the semifinals on Friday, was held to just two shots including one on goal in 72 minutes of action.
“I thought it was a heck of a final,” Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian said. “Two very good teams going out there competing at a pretty high level. I think both teams were probably carrying a little bit of fatigue into the game from Friday, but for the most part you couldn’t see it.
“I think our group and the Virginia Tech group competed at a very high level. At times, I saw some quite nice soccer out there and obviously a nice goal for us. We probably could’ve made the game a little easier if we had finished some of our other chances, but we seemed to want to keep the crowd into the game. Credit to Virginia Tech. They are a heck of a team and competitive as can be.”
With Florida State clinging to a one-goal lead late in the match, Reeves made a nice run down the right side of the pitch before firing a shot toward the near post in the 86th minute. Kelsey Wys was there with a big save, one of two on the evening, deflecting the ball over the crossbar. Virginia Tech could not do anything on the ensuing corner as the Seminoles cleared the ball ending the Hokies’ threat.
“I think that always happens when you’re up 1-0,” said Kallman on Virginia Tech’s offensive pressure late in the game. “The other team is going to throw forward a lot of players. That’s what we do when we are down; that’s why we are successful. We just had to weather the storm, play with the lead and clear balls. It’s not the prettiest, but I have a lot of confidence in our goalkeeper and our backline.”
The Seminole defensive unit of Kassey Kallman, Kristin Grubka, Megan Campbell, Isabella Schmid, Kirsten Crowley and Wys over the three game stretch in the ACC Tournament was outstanding allowing just one goal in over 270 minutes on the pitch to the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
With the win on Sunday, Florida State became the third school in ACC history to win the league title on multiple occasions joining North Carolina and Virginia.
The Seminoles also brought their all-time ACC Tournament record to .500 for the first time in school history as FSU improved to 15-15-6. It also marked the first time the Seminoles went through the league tournament with three victories.
Florida State grabbed the early lead thanks to Brynjarsdottir in the 36th minute. The Icelandic native gathered a rebound off a pass into the box from Marta Bakowska-Mathews that deflected off the head of a Hokie defender. Brynjarsdottir collected the ball and weaved between two defenders before slotting a low liner inside the left post for her 10th goal of the season. It was also the third time Brynjarsdottir had scored against the Hokies this year as the junior midfielder scored both goals in a 2-1 victory in Blacksburg back on October 24.
“Sometimes you have good games, sometimes you have average games and sometimes you have bad games,” said Brynjarsdottir on the success she had against the Hokies this year. “I had two good games against them.”
The Seminoles had a great look early in the first half when Michaela Hahn slid a pass from the right side to a wide open Berglind Thorvaldsdottir in the middle of the 18-yard box. The freshman forward took a split second too long as she dribbled back to her left before firing a shot on goal which was easily saved by Dayle Colpitts.
It wasn’t until the 24th when the Hokies finally registered their first shot of the match. A blast from Reeves from just outside the 18-yard box was blocked by the Seminole defense.
FSU finished the match with an 8-5 advantage in shots, while both teams attempted two corners.
Brynjarsdottir finished the match with a game-high four shots including two shots on goal.
Kallman, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, was also named to the All-Tournament team along with Brynjarsdottir, Grubka, Schmid and Wys.
Florida State now awaits its fate in the NCAA Tournament as the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship Selection Show will air live over the internet on NCAA.com starting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 11.
As always Seminole fans can follow the Noles on twitter @FSU_Soccer and remember to like the Seminoles on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FSUSoccer) and Instagram (NoleSoccer).
