October 12, 2014
Late drama for No. 9 Hokies ends with 2-1 loss at No. 2 FSU
Peurifoy scores equalizer in 82nd minute, but FSU responds with game-winning goal
12F
(9) Virginia Tech (12-3-0 (3-3-0)) 011
(2) Florida State (13-1-0 (6-0-0)) 022
  • Soccer Complex - 743

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The ninth-ranked Virginia Tech women’s soccer team dropped a heart-breaking loss to No. 2 Florida State after two Seminole goals and one Hokie goal in the last ten minutes gave Tech the 2-1 loss.

“I was extremely pleased with the effort and the work,” head coach Chugger Adair said. “Our girls showed heart and played hard and kept ourselves in the game. It was a game that got pretty hectic in the end, and it could’ve gone either way. I’m extremely proud of the girls and the effort they had. I’m disappointed with the result, there’s no doubt about it, but I think the girls worked hard and we had a difficult result on the road.”

Last year, Florida State (13-1-0, 6-0-0 ACC) proved a difficult opponent for Tech (12-3-0, 3-3-0 ACC), handing the Hokies three of their five losses on the season, including a 2-1 defeat in the NCAA College Cup national semifinal. This year, with Virginia Tech ranked No. 9 and Florida State ranked No. 2, both teams knew the game would be a dog fight.

In the first half, neither team secured a goal, with strong defensive play from both teams keeping the action in the midfield.

In the 24th minute, Tech’s defense took a hit when senior center back Jodie Zelenky left the game with an injury. Sophomore Sydney Curtis, who started one game earlier in the year at the center-back position, filled her spot.

In a stretch from the 25th minute until the 15th minute, the Seminoles earned one corner and shot three times, with one shot hitting the cross bar and another forcing Tech keeper Caroline Kelly to make a save.

The two teams entered halftime tied at 0-0 with Tech trailing in the shot category, 6-2.

In the second half, the game lacked no excitement or surprise. In the 52nd minute, sophomore Murielle Tiernan broke free of the Florida State defense on a breakaway but was halted from scoring when Seminole keeper, Cassie Miller, dove to kick-save the shot.

In the 82st minute, Florida State got on the board with the first goal of the game after Marta Bakawska-Mathews picked up a loose ball and sent a bending shot into the goal by the far post to put the Seminoles up 1-0.

Less than a minute later, Tech responded with a goal of their own off of a free kick. Sophomore Kallie Peurifoy sent the free-kick shot to the right side of the goal for her second of the year to tie the game at 1-1 with only eight minutes left to play.

Two minutes later, Florida State earned a penalty kick, but Bakowska-Mathews sailed the ball wide of the goal and the game remained tied at 1-1.

The two teams battled hard for the ensuing minutes, but, in the 87th minute, Florida State forward Dagny Brynjarsdottir headed in the game-winning goal off of a long throw from Megan Campbell to bring the score to 2-1.

The final shot tally favored the Seminoles, who shot 21 times, compared to the Hokies’ seven. Tech keeper Kelly finished the game with six saves.

Up next for the Hokies is Wake Forest, who comes to Thompson Field next Saturday to play at 7 p.m.

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