PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Despite game time temperatures in the 40s, the Seminole offense remained hot as No. 14 Florida State (11-3-2, 4-3-1 ACC) posted a 4-0 shutout over Pitt (4-10-1, 0-8-0 ACC) on Thursday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Deyna Castellanos recorded four points on a goal and two assists, as Kristen McFarland, Anna Patten and Natalia Kuikka also added goals on the night.
“I think overall that it was a good game and a good performance,” said FSU head coach Mark Krikorian. “It is always good to put the ball in the back of the net. Coming out in the second half and getting an early one, I think was important for us as well. From beginning to end, it was a good game for us.”
The Seminole offense started strong and earned a corner in the fourth minute and Castellanos’ service went in to Anna Patten, but her header was wide of the net.
A foul to Jaelin Howell in the seventh minute allowed Castellanos to take a free kick from 30 yards that went just over the cross bar. Castellanos started the next FSU scoring chance as she drove into the penalty box on the right and passed back for Kaycie Tillman and her shot at 10:16 was saved by Pitt GK Katherine Robinson.
Florida State opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Gloriana Villalobos dribbled toward the penalty box on the right and drew several Pitt defenders, which allowed Castellanos to be open on the left and Villalobos slid a perfect pass across the top of the box and the junior buried into the net for her sixth goal of the season.
It also marked the 32nd goal of Castellanos’ three-year career, which moved her into a tie for fifth in Florida State history with Mami Yamaguchi (2005-07).
Kristina Lynch nearly made it 2-0 Noles less than two minutes later with a shot from the left that went off the crossbar. It is the eighth time this season that the Seminoles have had a shot go off the crossbar and FSU has had three additional shots off the post in 2018.
Florida State controlled the majority of possession through the middle of the first half and Pitt had their best chance in the first half in the 41st minute as Madeline Gravante took a shot from 40 yards that bending into the upper right corner of the goal, but FSU GK Caroline Jeffers made an outstanding leaping save to punch the ball away for a corner.
The Seminoles pushed the lead out to 2-0 before halftime as Castellanos sent a ball out to the right for Megan Connolly and the senior worked to the endline and passed a low cross through the six-yard box for Kristen McFarland to easily put into the net in the 42nd minute.
FSU quickly made it 3-0 in the second half as a Pitt foul gave the Noles a free kick from 25 yards in the 47th minute. Castellanos took the free kick and it was saved in front of the net by the Pitt goalkeeper, but she couldn’t secure possession and Patten sprinted to the ball and put back the rebound for her second goal of the season.
Castellanos helped start the next scoring chance for Florida State, talking a corner kick from the left in the 63rd minute that couldn’t find a teammate in the six-yard box, but bounced out to Natalia Kuikka. The senior stepped up and blasted a shot from 15 yards for her second goal of the year to extend the lead to 4-0 Florida State.
Pitt’s GK Robinson made a trio of impressive saves in the final minutes as FSU looked to add to its lead. Dallas Dorosy sent a great through ball to Makala Thomas in the 84th minute and the freshman’s shot from 15 yards was punched away for a corner. Connolly’s corner went into the six-yard box, and Dorosy’s header nearly got over the line before it was stopped by Robinson.
In the 89th minute, Olivia Bergau worked to the endline on the left and her pass went through the six-yard box for Dorosy and a diving save by Robinson kept the game at 4-0 FSU.
For the match, FSU outshot the Panthers 22-2, including 11-1 in shots on goal, and had an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Seminoles will close out the weekend with a match on Sunday, October 21 at No. 6 Virginia (13-2-0, 6-2-0 ACC). Kickoff between FSU and UVA will be at 1:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Networks (RSN), and locally in Tallahassee on Fox Sports Florida. Links for the broadcast and live stats will be available on the soccer schedule page on Seminoles.com.
Throughout 2018-19, the Seminoles will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s intercollegiate athletics at Florida State and there are many events and reunions planned for all women’s sports. Head to www.seminoles.com/50th/ for more information that will be updated throughout the year.
Follow Florida State soccer on Twitter (@FSUSoccer), Instagram (@nolesoccer) and like our Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUSoccer) to keep up to date with everything about Seminole soccer.
