TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Top-seeded Florida State advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the eighth year in a row after defeating Texas A&M, 4-0, Sunday afternoon inside the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Four different Seminoles (19-3-0) found the back of the net on Sunday as the Garnet & Gold scored two goals in each half to move their home win streak to 17 in a row – one shy of the school record of 18 set over two seasons from 2008 to 2009.  FSU is now 26-1-0 all-time on its home turf during NCAA Tournament play. 

Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Tiffany McCarty paced the Florida State offense in the win over the Aggies on Sunday with three points apiece on a goal and an assist.  The Seminole duo has combined to score 12 goals over the last five games.

Isabella Schmid returned to the starting line-up and found a great time to score her first collegiate goal as her score was good for the eventual game-winner.  Jamia Fields added the fourth and final goal of the afternoon, while Jessica Price, Ines Jaurena and Carson Pickett all picked up assists in the win over the Aggies (19-5-1). 

The Seminole defense was solid once again in the win as Texas A&M managed just three shots on frame the entire 90 minutes of play. Kelsey Wys and Taylor Vancil each saw time between the posts, while Wys recorded three saves in over 81 minutes of play.  The shutout was FSU’s 16th of the season and second of the postseason. 

Florida State struck first on Sunday on Schmid’s first career goal in the 17th minute which gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead.  Price made a great run down toward the end line and was able to keep the ball in play stopping the ball on the line.  With a clear lane in front, Price sent a pass back up toward the top of the box that Schmid ran in on and one-timed a shot from just inside the left corner of the 18-yard box into the upper right corner of the net for the goal. 

The Seminoles added to their lead just over five minutes later when Brynjarsdottir one-timed a cross from McCarty to give FSU a two-goal advantage.  Jaurena began the scoring play sending a through ball to McCarty, who beat her defender down toward the end line.  The redshirt senior sent a beautiful ball across the mouth of the goal as Brynjarsdottir timed her run perfectly one-timing the cross into the back of the net from close range for her ninth goal of the season.

Texas A&M attempted to cut the deficit in half in the 33rd minute when Kelley Monogue flicked a shot on goal following a flip throw by Karlie Mueller, but Wys was there on the near post for the save.

The Aggies continued to apply pressure on the Seminoles just under two minutes later as a header by Chelsea Jones caromed off the crossbar following Texas A&M’s only corner kick of the first half.

Both teams went into the locker room taking five shots, while the Seminoles held a slight 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Texas A&M recorded the first shot on goal in the second half when Monogue fired a long distance shot that was easily handled by Wys in the 53rd minute.

Less than two minutes later, Florida State returned the favor with its first scoring threat of the second half.  Kristin Grubka headed a shot off a throw-in by Price but Mueller was there with a header of her own to save the ball from going inside the right post.

FSU took a 3-0 lead on McCarty’s team leading 15th goal of the season in the 71st minute.  Brynjarsdottir slipped a beautiful pass between two Aggie defenders that McCarty ran in on. With Aggie keeper Jordan Day charging on the play, McCarty slipped the ball to her left to avoid the diving Day leaving the Laurel, Md., native with a wide open shot on goal.  McCarty buried it to give the Seminoles a three-goal advantage.

Fields closed out the scoring in the 76th minute finding the back of the net for her third goal of the season.  The scoring play began on the left side of the pitch where Carson Pickett sent a low-lining pass back up to the top of the 18-yard box.  Fields made a touch to her left and then blasted a low shot that deflected off the leg of Day and inside the right post for the goal. 

The Seminole defense clamped down on the Aggies late allowing just one Texas A&M shot over the final 14 minutes of play.

Fields and Brynjarsdottir lead Florida State with three shots each, while Monogue paced the Aggies with a game-high five shots. 

With the win, Florida State advances to play Notre Dame, who defeated Florida 2-0 on Sunday, in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Friday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m.  The winner will secure one of four spots in the 2012 College Cup in San Diego, Calif.

Stay tuned to Seminoles.com for further updates on the 2012 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. 

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