TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A late second half goal by Jamia Fields kept No. 2 Florida State (4-0-1) unbeaten on the year as the Seminoles escaped with a 1-1 tie against Oklahoma State (3-0-2) Friday evening in front of a crowd of 1,278 inside the Seminole Soccer Complex.
In what looked like an end to FSU’s school record home win streak, Fields saved the night scoring the equalizer with a minute and nine seconds left in regulation to tie the game at one and force overtime.
“I just knew that Dagny – or someone – would get on the end of it,” said Fields. “And if I could just be there by the keeper to get the knockdown, or get lucky like I did, I knew I would get a chance. I’m glad I got that goal.”
Kelsey Wys started the scoring play as the Seminoles brought all 11 players forward in an effort to score the game tying goal. The senior keeper lofted a beautiful ball inside the 18-yard box where Dagny Brynjarsdottir headed the ball in front of the net to Fields who headed the ball in for the score. The goal was Fields’ second of the season, while it marked the fourth career assist for Wys. The assist for Brynjarsdottir was her first in 2013.
“Well I thought that we were pretty willing to fight and compete,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “The good news is that we showed that we could come back. We showed that were able to find a way to win against UCF and now come back tonight with very little time left in the game to equalize.”
The tie closed the book on FSU’s school record 21-game home winning streak – a mark dating back to the 2011 season. The Seminoles are now unbeaten at home over the last 22 games (21-0-1) and have not lost inside the Seminole Soccer Complex since October 13, 2011 against Maryland.
After both teams could not find the back of the net through the first 45 minutes of the game, Oklahoma State struck first in the 53rd minute on a long range shot off the foot of Courtney Dike. The freshman forward got in behind the Seminole defense and blasted a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that curled inside the upper right corner for her team-high sixth goal of the season.
Florida State definitely had its share of scoring opportunities on Friday as the Seminoles outshot the Cowgirls 31-7 including 5-2 over the two overtime periods. But OSU was also the recipient of two tremendous team saves that kept the Garnet & Gold off the scoreboard.
“We’re all probably a little bit disappointed that our quality in front of the goal wasn’t a little bit better,” added Krikorian. “It seemed in the first half we had a number of very good looks and maybe were a little bit immature, a little bit naïve in our finishing in and around the box. But you know these were all great learning opportunities for us. Oklahoma State came in here and was very competitive and it’s a good team for us to play against.”
The Seminoles fired 14 shots in the first half with Carson Pickett giving FSU its first golden opportunity in the 22nd minute. Nickolette Driesse sent a low cross through the box which Berglind Thorvaldsdottir faked as if she was going to take the shot, but left the ball for Pickett who one-timed the shot high and out of play.
OSU responded in the 24th minute forcing Wys into a diving tip save on a header by Delaney Kiely off a Cowgirl corner.
In the 38th minute, Anna McClung looked as if she was going to record her first collegiate goal as her low lining shot from the right side beat OSU keeper Rosa Medina and was headed inside the left post, but defender Lauren Reyes made a diving kick save to keep the game scoreless.
Right before the half, Kassey Kallman flicked a great pass to Nora Kervroedan, who collected the ball from about 15 yards away from the net, evaded a defender and then blasted a shot just over the crossbar.
The second Oklahoma State team save came in the 85th minute on a header by Kristin Grubka following a Seminole throw-in. Fifty seconds later, another Seminole throw-in would result in a shot on goal, this time coming from Thorvaldsdottir but Medina was there for the save.
Despite outshooting the Cowgirls 5-2 over the two overtime periods, the best scoring opportunity from either team came from Oklahoma State. In the 94th minute, Dike once again got behind the Seminole defense leaving a one-on-one situation with Wys. The Seminole goalkeeper would get the better of the freshman forward making a tremendous diving save to keep the game going.
Brynjarsdottir led all players on Friday night with a game-high five shots, while Michaela Hahn registered four. Allie Stephenson paced the Cowgirls with three shots in 101 minutes.
Florida State returns to the pitch for its final non-conference regular season match of the year on Sunday, September 8 when the Seminoles welcome Oklahoma to the Seminole Soccer Complex for a 1:00 p.m. first kick Live stats will be available on gametracker, while in-game updates will be available on twitter throughout the match.
As always, Seminole fans can follow the Noles on twitter @FSU_Soccer and remember to like the Seminoles on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FSUSoccer).
