CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –   Florida State got a brilliant goalkeeper performance from Kelsey Wys as the top-ranked Seminoles defeated #9 North Carolina 1-0 Thursday night in women’s soccer action before 1,511 fans at Fetzer Field.

 

Wys made seven saves to lead the Seminoles to their second straight victory over the Tar Heels at Fetzer Field.  A goal by Dagny Brynjarsdottir in the 61st minute proved for be the game-winner for the Seminoles who also beat Carolina 1-0 in last year’s ACC Tournament quarterfinals at Fetzer Field.  Carolina is now 24-4-2 against the Seminoles although the teams have split the last six games between the two teams.

 

Florida State becomes only the second collegiate team to beat the Tar Heels in successive games at Fetzer Field.  Notre Dame won three straight at Fetzer against the Heels in 2007, 2008 and 2010.  Friday’s loss marked only the 18th loss for the Tar Heels at Fetzer Field in their history.

 

Florida State, ranked #1 in all four polls, improved to 10-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC while North Carolina fell to 5-3-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the ACC.  FSU is off to its best start in history and has not allowed a goal in its last 528 minutes of play.  The Seminoles have posted eight shutouts in their last nine games, including five clean sheets in a row.  UNC was shutout for the third time this season (Portland, Florida, Florida State) and has now been shutout for just the 33rd time in 34 varsity seasons.

 

Carolina outshot the Seminoles 14-5 and had a corner kick edge of 4-1.  Wys finished with seven saves for the Seminoles, including three in the first half and four in the second half.  The Seminoles had two shots on goal with goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin, who came on at halftime, credited with one save.

 

The Florida State goal came with 61 minutes gone after a turnover by the Tar Heels in midfield.  Jamia Fields fed a great through ball to Tiffany McCarty and the redshirt senior forward went end line as she sped past the UNC back line.  McCarty centered the ball perfectly to Dagny Brynjarsdottir who finished past Heaberlin into the right side from 14 yards out.

 

The Tar Heels outshot the Seminoles 6-2 in the first half but could not dent the scoreboard.  Wys’ best save of the first half came on a one-on-one chance by Kealia Ohai in the 20th minute of play.  Ohai got behind the FSU defense a shot but Wys came out of the penalty box to clear away what appeared to be a sure goal.

 

Wys went on to make four second half saves, none bigger than the one she made on defender Crystal Dunn’s shot in the 85th minute.  Dunn dribbled into the box on the right side, beating her defenders and went far post but was denied by a full out diving save by Wys.  UNC’s last chance came with 56 seconds to play when Kelsey Wys grabbed Meg Morris’ shot from distance.

 

UNC leaves the game in seventh place in the ACC standings with a key game coming up against Miami on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fetzer Field.  The Hurricanes defeated NC State 2-0 Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

 

Current standings have Maryland atop the league with 13 points, followed by Florida State with nine, Virginia and Duke with seven, Wake Forest and Boston College with six, North Carolina with four, Miami and Virginia Tech with three and Clemson and NC State with zero.  The top eight teams in the ACC regular-season standings qualify for the ACC Tournament October 28 and November 2 and 4. D