TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Top-ranked Florida State (5-0-0) registered first half goals from Jessica Price and Nora Kervroedan and held off a pesky Cal State Fullerton squad (1-5-0) to remain undefeated on the season with a 2-1 victory Friday night in front of a crowd of 1,123 inside the Seminole Soccer Complex.   

With the win, the Seminoles ran their home winning streak to seven in a row dating back to last year, while improving to 3-0 against first time opponents in 2012. 

“I said to our players before the game that Fullerton was the best 1-4 team in the country and they sure proved it tonight,” said head coach Mark Krikorian.  “They gave us everything that we could handle.  Our kids fought hard, battled hard and created enough chances but weren’t good enough to finish those chances in the penalty box. We have to be better in the box and if we can do that maybe the game comes a little easier for us.”

“We were expecting them to come in and fight hard and that is exactly what they did tonight,” said Price. 

Florida State wasted very little time cracking the scoreboard Friday night as Price bent a shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box inside the right post for her first goal of the season in the third minute of play.  The goal was set up by Price, who gained possession of the ball in the Seminoles’ offensive third on a header off a defensive clear.  The ball went to Tiffany McCarty who sent a through pass to Jamia Fields.  Fields settled the ball and then sent a cross to Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who laid it off for Price for the finish.  Fields and Brynjarsdottir were credited with an assist on the play.

“We had some good build-up; Jamia passed the ball to Dagny and I told Dagny to lay it off for me and she did,” added Price.  “She laid it off great and I just tried to bend it and fortunately it went in.”

In the ninth minute, Casey Short ripped a shot from about 20 yards out that was initially saved by Fullerton keeper Lindsey Maricic. McCarty made a run at the loose ball off the save, but Maricic recovered in time and scooped up the ball to end the threat. 

Less than three minutes later, the Titans would draw even at 1-1 as Ann Marie Tangorra found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.  Off a Seminole turnover in Cal State Fullerton’s side of the field, Erica Mazeau slipped a pass to Tangorra, who ran in on the ball, took two dribbles and fired a shot inside the left post for the goal.

The goal was the first allowed by the Seminoles since the season opener at Minnesota bringing to a close the consecutive shutout streak at just over 375 minutes of action. 

The Seminoles would look to take advantage of a Cal State Fullerton foul just outside the 18-yard box in the 15th minute, but the direct free kick taken by Isabella Schmid caromed off the crossbar and went out of play. 

FSU regained the lead in the 24th minute when Kervroedan blasted a shot inside the left post following a great passing combination by Brynjarsdottir and McCarty.  The goal would eventually go down as the game-winner for the French native – the first of her young college career. 

“I saw the ball getting on Tiffany and I think she saw me out of the corner of her eye,” said Kervroedan.  “I had the goal open and was able to find the back of the net.”

Brynjarsdottir would finish the match with a career-high two assists becoming the first Seminole to record a multi-assist game this season.

“Both goals tonight were pretty good,” said Krikorian.  “Nora once again showed her quality around the box and had a good finish.  I thought Jamia was a little unlucky as she hit one off the post and wide, Grubka hit one off the crossbar and Ines’ follow-up just missed.  The goals themselves were nice but I thought the passing and build-up was pretty good in a lot of segments of tonight’s game.”

The Seminoles went into the locker room with a 10-1 advantage in shots, while both teams attempted just one corner kick. 

McCarty registered the first two great scoring opportunities in the second half all in a matter of 45 seconds.  The first came off a pass from Dria Hampton that McCarty one-timed just wide of the right post.  The second came when McCarty split the Titan defense and fired a low liner that again went wide of the right post.

Grubka was denied her third goal in as many games in the 64th minute when she blasted a shot off the crossbar from about 22 yards out.  The ricochet went right to Ines Jaurena, who one-timed a header wide of the right post. 

FSU’s Kelsey Wys came through with the first of her three saves on the evening in the 67th minute on a dangerous shot by Mazeau.  The Titan midfielder ripped a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that Wys tipped over the crossbar for the save. 

The final two saves came in the last five minutes of regulation as the Seminole keeper thwarted away chances from Rebecca Wilson and JeAnne Mazeau. 

Florida State finished the match with a 16-5 advantage in shots, while the Titans held the edge in corner kicks at 2-1. 

“It was quite a good game,” added Kervroedan.  “We made it a little harder on ourselves toward the end, but we did a good job to hold on for the victory.”

“I’m content that we are doing the right things,” added Krikorian.  “We are getting better each time we come out and play.  Sunday’s match against Arkansas is going to be a tough match for us.”

The top-ranked Seminoles will return to the field on Sunday, September 9 as FSU travels to Fayetteville to face Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live over the internet on ArkansasRazorbacks.com, while live stats will be available at the same location.  Fans can always receive in-game updates on Twitter @FSU_Soccer.  Also, do not forget to like the Seminole Soccer team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FSUSoccer.   

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