Florida State Shuts Down Florida Gulf Coast 4-0

Three first half goals pace the Seminoles in Sunday’s win over the Eagles.



TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Eighth-ranked Florida State (6-1-1) closed out its regular season non-conference schedule with a 4-0 victory over Florida Gulf Coast (5-2-0) on Sunday afternoon at the Seminole Soccer Complex. In the first meeting between both schools, FSU registered goals from four different Seminoles including a goal and an assist from both Sanna Talonen and Tori Huster.



“Florida Gulf Coast gave us a good fight this afternoon,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “Some of their player I know and they are good players. That’s why you play these games, you go out and try and measure yourself against any one and every one.



“I thought we came out hard and we didn’t against South Carolina last time out. We kind of felt that we didn’t bring our ‘A’ game against the Gamecocks…I think overall today, we came out and fought hard. We limited their chances while creating a number of good ones on our end. If we can do that against everybody then we will be successful.”



The Seminoles grabbed the early lead in the eighth minute of play as Talonen recorded her fifth goal of the season. The goal was set up as a result of a double combination play by Huster and Amanda DaCosta in the middle third of the offensive attack. DaCosta found Talonen open inside the left box. After a dribble towards the middle of the goal, the Finnish native finished the play scoring inside the left post from 15 yards out to give FSU a 1-0 lead.



The goal was the first scored against FGCU in four games, a span covering over 367 minutes of action.



FSU added to its lead exactly three minutes later on Tiffany McCarty’s team leading sixth goal of the season. Marissa Kazbour began the play sending a long pass down the right side of the pitch for Talonen who over ran the ball as she went one-on-one with an Eagle defender. Talonen was able to recover and gain possession of the ball sending a cross into the box for McCarty. The freshman forward gathered the pass, took two dribbles to her left and sent a cross inside the right post beating a diving Stephanie Powers from 13 yards out to give the Seminoles a two-goal advantage.



Florida State would add one more goal before halftime as red-shirt freshman Jessica Price scored on an assist from Rachel Lim. Lim began the scoring play taking the ball down the left side of the pitch. As she neared the end line, the sophomore from Boca Raton, Fla., sent a beautiful cross into the goal area where Price one-timed a shot for her second goal of the season. The assist was the second of the year for Lim.



FGCU recorded its first shot with just under two minutes to play in the first half. Kelli Heammelmann was credited with the shot but it was blocked by the Seminole defense.



“We did very well today,” added Price. “We held it together and held the ball for a good portion of the game. We are always working to get better.”



The Seminoles had two great scoring opportunities just minutes into the start of the second half courtesy of McCarty and DaCosta. The Laurel, Md., native nearly missed on her second goal of the afternoon as she ricochet a shot off the left post in the 48th minute. McCarty hustled to the rebound and found DaCosta inside the box, who fired a shot wide left.



Florida State increased its lead to 4-0 on a goal by Huster with 1:28 left to play. The freshman midfielder fired a blast from just outside the box putting away a failed clear attempt by the Eagle defense. The goal was Huster’s second of the season and second multi-point performance in 2008.



The Seminoles out shot the Eagles 26-4 in the game while maintaining the advantage in corner kicks at 6-0.



Talonen’s goal in the first half would stand as the game-winner, her third of the season and ninth of her career moving her into sole possession of fourth place all-time at Florida State. Huster and DaCosta each tallied their second game-winning assist of the season on the play to lead the team in that category.



Kate Milstead and Kimmy Diaz split time in goal on Sunday as both keepers tallied 45 minutes between the posts. Diaz was credited with the lone save preserving the shutout with a nice deflection in the second half on a kick from about 23 yards out by the Eagles’ Amanda Goble.



The Seminoles were credited with their fifth shut out of the season as the defense did a fabulous job limiting Florida Gulf Coast to just one shot on goal all game.



With the non-conference, regular season schedule in the books, Florida State will now focus its attention on ACC play. The Seminoles will remain at home as they host the Virginia Cavaliers on Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. to kick off conference actions. Fans can watch the game live over the web on ACC Select, while gametracker will be available for the contest.