Scalped!

UNC 1-1 FSU, Seminoles advance to Women's College Cup on Penalties FSU's goalkeepers came up huge when their team needed them most, making two critical saves on UNC's Lindsay Tarpley in extra time and then stopping Heather O'Reilly's spot kick during penalties as the Seminoles advance to the 2006 College Cup in College Station, Texas. A crowd of over 2500 packed Fetzer Field on a cold holiday afternoon only to see UNC shocked early as FSU's India Trotter got behind the Carolina defense after just 8 minutes and finished her breakaway expertly around Tarheel keeper Anna Rodenbough to put FSU ahead with what would be their only shot on net for the balance of regulation time. Carolina's midfield would take over the game from there but it would be 11 minutes into the second half before the Tarheel's Kendall Fletcher headed home the equalizer after FSU's defense had valiantly turned away an amazing salvo of shots from Carolina. The Tarheels would continue to dominate possession while FSU's defense stood their ground and sent the game to extra time. Carolina almost finished the overtime period as quickly as it started when Lindsay Tarpley got free inside the FSU penalty area just 40 seconds into extra time but FSU's Ali Mimms did well to turn the shot aside. Then very much against the run of play, India Trotter, in an identical play to her goal in the first half, got behind the Tarheel defense to register only the 2nd shot on frame for FSU, but this time Rodenbough won the 1v1 battle. Carolina will be disappointed to have not finished off the Seminoles in the extra time period when they squandered several chances late to win the game. First, Lindsay Tarpley made a 50 yard mazy run through the FSU defense and laid off a perfect ball for Libby Guess who beat Mimms but not the crossbar. Then from the left side Heather O'Reilly beat the FSU defense to endline and cut the ball back for Tarpley who sprayed her shot just wide of the left post. Mimms denied Carolina a final time in the extra time period when she commandingly punched a Tarheel corner away just as Tarpley was attempting a free header inside the 6 yard box. Without a winner between them, the game moved to penalties and FSU decided to bring in their backup keeper Minna Pyykko to face the PKs. All 10 shooters put their shots on net with the difference in the game being Pyyko's one and only save of the game on Heather O'Reilly to send FSU to the College Cup. I've posted some pictures from the game on my flickr stream.

-- Jarrett @ 11/25/2005 07:56:00 PM