TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For the second time in program history, Florida State defeated the No. 1 team in the country, earning a 1-0 win over top-ranked North Carolina with a goal from Berglind Thorvaldsdottir in the 79th minute on Sunday afternoon at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The No. 2 Seminoles (12-1-1, 5-0-1 ACC) secured their 19th straight win at home and are unbeaten in their last 17 matches against ACC opponents, dating back to 2013.

 

The No. 1 Tar Heels fell to 11-2-1 on the season, 4-2-0 in conference play, and lost their second game in a row for just the eighth time in program history. Florida State has been a part of five of those back-to-back losses by UNC – Louisville and FSU (2015), Notre Dame and FSU (2013), Maryland and FSU (2011), Miami and FSU (2009) and FSU and Wake Forest (2000). Florida State also picked up its seventh win all-time over the Tar Heels. No other school has defeated UNC that many times.

 

“Overall, our performance was very solid,” said FSU head coach Mark Krikorian. “We limited the number of chances they had at our goal and I thought that in the first half we had some very good looks. To play a team of that quality and find a way to win, it is satisfying.”

 

The match opened much like you would expect in a clash of two of the top teams in the country. Both teams made offensive pushes but each defense would shut down every opportunity. Despite an up-tempo, back-and-forth battle to start the game, neither team was able to take a shot until UNC’s Jessie Scarpa kicked one on goal at 10:26 that was saved by FSU goalkeeper Cassie Miller.

 

North Carolina continued to find openings over the next few minutes, with headers from Scarpa and Alex Kimball, but neither were on goal.

 

The Seminoles broke through the UNC defense in the 16th minute with a flurry of offensive action. Freshman Megan Connolly ripped a pair of shots that were blocked by a UNC defender and Cheyna Williams collected the rebound and her shot was blocked away for a corner. The ensuing corner from Carson Pickett was headed by Megan Campbell but couldn’t get through the UNC backline as it was blocked as well.

 

FSU continued the offensive pressure, tallying several shots from Isabella Schmid, Michaela Hahn, Connolly and Williams. An FSU corner in the 31st minute from Connolly found Kirsten Crowley at the top of the six-yard box and her header went off the crossbar and Thorvaldsdottir’s follow-up shot went just wide of the goal.

 

The UNC defense and goalkeeping was stout as starter Bryane Heaberlin was active in the penalty box, leaping and catching numerous corners and long throw-ins as the Tar Heels were able to stifle the offensive threat of Campbell’s throw. The Noles closed out the first half with a 12-5 lead in shots and a 4-1 lead in corner kicks.

 

“We certainly hoped we’d be able to get some opportunities in and around the penalty box,” said Krikorian. “At different times we were able to break their pressure and find players that were open and in good positions. Fortunately, we were able to find the game-winner in the second half.”

 

The second half began much like the first, with each team threatening an offensive push and the opposing defenses collapsing to protect and take possession. North Carolina substituted Lindsey Harris in goal for Heaberlin for the final 45 minutes.

 

A yellow card to UNC’s Katie Bowen at 57:54 gave the Noles a great scoring chance with a free kick from 20 yards out. Connolly’s strike was saved by Harris on a diving stop and Natalia Kuikka was able to get a foot on the rebound, but her shot was also saved by the UNC keeper.

 

The Seminoles scored the eventual game-winner in the 79th minute with a goal from Thorvaldsdottir. A drop kick from FSU goalkeeper Miller bounced over the UNC backline and found the redshirt junior forward who struck a shot on her first touch into the left side of the net to give the Noles the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory.

 

“Cassie punted the ball and it got through and a lot of things ran through my mind,” said Thorvaldsdottir. “‘Should I chip it over, should I get closer?’, but I guess I made the right choice. It felt so good. They are a physical team, but I think we matched them well and it was a good game. It felt really good to score the goal.”

 

The goal was Thorvaldsdottir’s six of the season, and Miller’s assist was the first of her career and the first assist from an FSU goalkeeper since Kelsey Wys was involved on a goal by Thorvaldsdottir at Duke in a 2-1 win on September 15, 2013.  

 

“We were solid today, starting from the top all the way to the back, I thought we played well,” said Miller. “It was a team effort for sure.”

 

North Carolina pressed to find the equalizer, earning a shot from Abby Elinsky and a corner by Alexa Newfield, but the Florida State defense held strong yet again as the Noles recorded their 10th shutout of the season. FSU has allowed just one goal – an own goal against Clemson – over the last 898:37 of the season, dating back to September 4.

 

“Cassie Miller continues to distinguish herself among the best goalkeepers in the country,” added Krikorian. “It was a heck of a kick, and a well-timed run by Berglind and a class finish. You couldn’t script it any better in that regard.”
 

Florida State will open a three-game road trip on Saturday, October 17 as the Seminoles travel to Louisville for a match at 7:00 p.m. The Cardinals (7-5-2, 3-2-1 ACC) defeated No. 1 North Carolina at home on October 8 and earned a draw with Duke on October 11. The match between FSU and Louisville will be streamed on ESPN3 with live stats available by Sidearm Sports.

 

Follow Florida State soccer on Twitter (@FSU_Soccer) and like our Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUSoccer) to keep up to date with everything about Seminole soccer.