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FSU Soccer Shuts Out Kentucky

FSU Soccer Shuts Out Kentucky
FSU Soccer Shuts Out Kentucky
Posted at 11:45 PM, Sep 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-03 23:45:00-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Getting a pair of two-goal performances from sophomore Deyna Castellanos and freshman Madisyn Pezzino, No. 15/8 Florida State (4-1-0) posted a 4-0 victory over Kentucky (2-4-0) on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,162 fans at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

The shutout also increases redshirt senior goalkeeper Cassie Miller’s career total to 42, moving her into sole possession of 11th place on the NCAA all-time list.

“I thought that our collective defending was pretty good and we were able to get high and put some pressure on them,” said FSU head coach Mark Krikorian. “Overall, I think it was a good, solid performance from start to finish. We minimized their chances at our goal and created four goals and probably a few more that we could have had.

“Kentucky came in here and battled very hard. They came down after playing on Friday night in a very tight game against Louisville, which is a big rivalry game for them. They represented themselves very well and I am quite impressed with the group we just played.”

The Seminoles started the match aggressively, getting shots from Natalia Kuikka, Emily Madril and Deyna Castellanos in the opening 10 minutes, but managed just one on goal, which was saved by UK goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie.

Florida State continued the pressure, but struggled to find the final pass in the first half for quality scoring opportunities with only one shot from the 20th to the 44th minute.

Castellanos broke the stalemate as time nearly expired in the first half, taking a ball off the UK defense near the midfield and dribbling in for a shot from the top of the box at 44:53 to give the Noles a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Coming out for the second half, Kentucky made a goalkeeping change as a collision with Soucie prompted her to come out due to the concussion protocol, enabling Sophie Babo to earn her first-ever goalkeeping appearance.

The Noles tested Babo early and often in the second half including Castellanos recording her sixth goal of the season in the 48th minute, collecting a ball near the penalty spot from Megan Connolly, turning her defender and burying it in the back of the net for a 2-0 Seminole lead.

FSU put five more shots on goal over the next eight minutes, including shots from Adrienne Richardson, Gabby Carle and Gloriana Villalobos, but Kentucky’s Babo was able to secure them all.

Clara Robbins nearly scored her first collegiate goal in the 71st minute as a long ball from Kuikka was tracked down at the top of the box by the redshirt freshman, who headed it over the UK keeper and it was bouncing toward the goal before Kelly Novak made a defensive team save by kicking the ball over the goal for a corner to preserve the 2-0 score.

Pezzino wrapped up the scoring for the Seminoles with late goals in the 86th and 88th minutes. The first scoring play started with combination passing on the right side with Ari Hudson and Dallas Dorosy, who found Pezzino near the top of the six-yard box. The freshman from Grand Island, New York controlled the ball and fired it into the net for her first collegiate goal.

The second chance came two minutes later as Bella Dorosy slipped a ball behind the UK backline on the left side and Pezzino slotted a shot inside the near post to beat Babo and extend the Seminole lead to 4-0.

For the game, FSU outshot Kentucky 27-1, with the only Wildcat shot following a free kick in the 63rd minute off the foot of Tanya Samarzich that was well high of the goal.

The Seminoles will head down to Gainesville on Friday September 8 for the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown, taking on the No. 2/3 Gators (4-1-0) at 7:00 p.m. in the annual series between Florida and Florida State. The match will be held at James G. Pressly Stadium with free admission and will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.