Talonen’s Golden Goal Gives FSU 1-0 Victory Over Maryland The Seminoles extend their road unbeaten streak to five games in 2008.

10/2/08

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Eleventh-ranked Florida State (8-2-1, 2-1-0 ACC) registered a golden goal by sophomore Sanna Talonen in the first overtime period to give the Seminoles a 1-0 victory over Maryland (4-6-1, 0-3-0 ACC) on a cold, crisp Thursday evening in College Park. The win extended the Seminoles current road unbeaten streak to five game (4-0-1) in 2008, while it was the fourth straight victory for FSU over the Terrapins.

The goal was setup when sophomore Amanda DaCosta was fouled just outside the box on the left side of the pitch. Before Maryland could organize its defensive scheme, senior captain Sarah Wagenfuhr took a quick free kick bending the ball to the far post where Talonen flicked a header into the upper right corner for the goal.

“I noticed that the wall wasn’t looking,” explained Wagenfuhr. “I played the ball in and Sanna had a great finish.”

“We had the free kick and Wags was ready to go,” added Talonen. “She played the ball pretty quickly and I was separated from my defender. The ball was perfectly on its way and this time I headed it on frame.”

The goal was the seventh of the season for Talonen who moved into sole possession of sixth place all-time with 25 career goals. The goal was also her fourth game-winner in 2008 and tenth of her career. Wagenfuhr was credited with an assist on the play, her fourth of the year to establish a season-high for assists in a single season.

Talonen was on the receiving end of the last golden goal victory for the Seminoles back in 2007 when a header by the Finnish native gave Florida State a 3-2 victory in double overtime over Connecticut in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Of the seven goals scored by Talonen this year, five have come on the road. She also led all players on Thursday night with a season-high six shots.

The first scoring chance for either team in the first overtime period came from the Seminoles as Talonen came sliding in on pass from McCarty pushing the ball wide to the left.

Then Sutton came within inches of scoring her first goal of the season as she sent a bending ball from the right out about 30 yards. But the ball sailed wide and out of play.

Florida State dominated the overtime period taking four shots while holding the Terps to zero offensive chances. The Seminoles ended the game out shooting the Terrapins 24-11. FSU also held the edge in corner kicks at 8-3.

“I felt we played pretty well,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “I keep talking about creating chances, and we keep creating chances but I think we are at a point now where we need to start putting some of those chances away.”

“Maryland was very organized; they were disciplined and fought hard,” added Krikorian. “They pressed us to the limit. The good news for us is that we found a way to win a very tough game on a very tough road trip.”

Jessica Price recorded the first Seminole shot of the game in the third minute of action blasting a shot from the left corner of the box. Maryland keeper Mary Casey was up for the early test covering the near post for the save.

The Seminoles had another great scoring chance in the 13th minute as Talonen sent a pass from the end line into an open spot in the box. Freshman Tiffany McCarty came rushing in and got a shot off but the ball ricocheted off the Terrapin defense. The loose ball remained in the zone before Casey came charging in to gain possession to end the threat.

Three minutes later McCarty sent a beautiful cross into the box from the right side where Casey Short came running on and one-timed a shot wide of the right post.

Later in the first half, Florida State was called for a foul in the Maryland offensive third as Jasmyne Spencer was tripped up by a Seminole defender. Nataly Arias took the free kick from about 25 yards out bending a ball towards the right post but FSU goalkeeper Kate Milstead was there for the save.

Both teams went into the locker room knotted at zero. Florida State out shot Maryland 10-3, while holding the advantage in corner kicks at 2-0. Short and McCarty led the team with two shots apiece.

Talonen had a great scoring chance in the 46th minute but Casey made an outstanding diving save to keep the game scoreless. Rachel Lim started the play with a long run down the left side of the pitch. With several Maryland players closing in, Lim dumped off to Short who one-timed a cross to Talonen. The Finnish native collected the ball and fired a shot on goal but Casey made a tremendous diving save to her right.

Minutes later Lim forced Casey into another save situation sending a low liner towards the right post. The Maryland keeper just got a hand on it sending the ball out of bounds for the first Seminole corner of the second half.

In the 60th minute, Lim had another great look from the right side off a pass from McCarty. The Laurel, Md., native made a few nice moves in the box before finding Lim open on the right side. Lim one-timed a shot just over the cross bar and out of play.

Casey once again thwarted away another great scoring opportunity for the Seminoles in the 66th making a point blank save on a shot by Talonen. Erika Sutton sent a lofty cross from the right side where McCarty redirected the ball inside the box to Talonen, who got the shot off from about five yards out.

Maryland threatened just over a minute later as Spencer went stride for stride with Seminole defender Sarah Wagenfuhr down the left side of the pitch. Wagenfuhr did a nice job of keeping Spencer in check as the Terrapin forward was forced to send a shot towards the left post as it was easily handled by Milstead.

Talonen narrowly missed on a header in the 69th minute. Lauren Switzer sent a pass from about 35 yards out into the box where Talonen flicked the header just wide of the right post.

Maryland was awarded its first corner of the game with 15:01 left to play in the second half. The Terps followed with a pair of shots as Caitlin Mcdowell and Kaila Sciascia both sailed balls wide right of the net.

With just under a minute remaining, Switzer slipped in behind the Maryland defense redirecting a shot from the right side towards the left post. But Terrapin defender Sadie Ayinde made a great save pushing the ball out of play as Price came running on to take a shot.

Milstead finished the game with two saves while picking up her third shutout of the season. Maryland’s Casey set a career-high with eight saves against the Seminoles.

“It was a key win for us,” said Wagenfuhr. “Maryland came out strong, put up a really good game and played good defense. They saved a ball off the line; the keeper had some awesome saves. But we just kept pushing and were persistent and it finally paid off.”

Florida State will wrap-up its northern road trip as the Seminoles will next face 14th-ranked Boston College on Sunday, October 5 at 1:00 p.m. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the action as live stats will be available via gametracker on Seminoles.com.