CLEMSON, S.C. – Finishing in a draw for the first time this season, No. 23 Florida State (11-5-1, 5-4-1 ACC) closed out the 2017 regular season with a 2-2 draw at Clemson (9-5-3, 3-4-3 ACC) on Thursday night at Riggs Field.
The Seminoles finished in seventh place in the conference, and will play their ACC Quarterfinal match at No. 2-seed North Carolina on Sunday, October 29 at 1:00 p.m. The game will be played at the WakeMed Soccer Park as UNC’s home stadium of Fetzer Field is undergoing renovations.
The Seminoles and Tigers played to a scoreless opening half, but it was not without chances from both sides. FSU earned four corners in the first 20 minutes and were able to get shots by Gabby Carle and Clara Robbins, but both were blocked. Clemson sent in dangerous crosses in the ninth and 23 minutes, but each were handled and cleared by the Seminole defense.
The Tigers had a pair of chances late in the first half as a counterattack in the 37th minute got behind the FSU defense, but Emma Koivisto was able to disrupt the attacker’s run and allowed Cassie Miller to clear the ball. A long throw by CU’s Sam Staab created a corner kick opportunity for the Tigers in the 40th minute, and the ensuing shot by Jeni Erickson was saved by Miller.
Sophomore Deyna Castellanos took four shots in the opening half, with two on goal and another blocked, to lead the team.
In the second half, Clemson had a solid cross into the box by Kimber Haley in the 50th minute, and the shot by Mariana Speckmaier from 10 yards was saved by FSU’s Miller. The redshirt senior helped start the Seminole possession that led to the first goal of the match.
As FSU worked the ball down the left side and through the midfield, freshman Anna Patten sent a ball through to Kaycie Tillman on the right. The junior midfielder sent a low shot into the net for her second goal of the season to give FSU a 1-0 lead at 50:21.
Clemson tied the match in the 58th minute as a Seminole foul gave the Tigers a penalty kick. CU’s Shannon Horgan took the PK and FSU’s Miller saved the shot, but she left a rebound in front that Jenna Polonsky finished into the goal to make it a 1-1 game.
The Noles regained the lead at 70:13 as Olivia Bergau chipped a pass into the box for Dallas Dorosy. The junior redirected the ball for Castellanos in front of the goal, allowing the sophomore forward to do what she does best, scoring her 15th goal of the season to put FSU up 2-1.
The Florida State lead was short-lived, as a Clemson corner kick in the 73rd minute bounced around the box and eventually found CU’s Dani Antieau near the penalty spot and her shot got through several FSU and Clemson players before finding the back of the net to tie the match at 2-2.
The Seminoles managed a corner in the 87th minute, but were unable to find a shot as regulation ended at 2-2.
Clemson’s Julie Mackin received a yellow in the 93rd minute for a foul on Emma Koivisto, giving Castellanos a free kick from 20 yards on the right, but her cross was cleared away by Clemson.
The best scoring chance of either team in the first overtime came on another Castellanos free kick from 40 yards, and Natalia Kuikka was able to get a diving header on it, but it was redirected just wide of the net in the 96th minute.
In the second overtime, Patten nearly ended it as she drove into the penalty box in the 102nd minute and took a shot from the right, but Clemson’s Sandy MacIver punched it away for a save to give FSU a corner kick. Carle’s eventual shot after the free kick was blocked.
The Noles had two more shots in the final period from Castellanos and Villalobos, but the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Overall, the Noles outshot the Tigers, 16-11, and also had an advantage of 7-4 in corner kicks for the match.
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