TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Top ranked Florida State (4-0-0) posted its third consecutive shutout of the season with a 4-0 victory over the College of Charleston (1-3-0) on a hot and steamy Sunday afternoon inside the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Three different Seminoles scored in the win including redshirt senior Tiffany McCarty who netted her first two goals of the season in a span of one minute and 17 seconds in the second half to break open a one-goal advantage.  It marked McCarty’s 10th career multi-goal game to put her atop the Florida State record books in that category. 

Sophomore Kristin Grubka scored for the second straight game as she broke a scoreless tie late in the first half finding the back of the net on a header off a corner kick.  Tiana Brockway send a bending kick toward the far post where Grubka came flying inside the six-yard box connecting on a header into the lower right corner for her a second goal of the season.  The goal would stand as the eventual game-winner for the Melbourne, Fla., native, her second in as many games.

“With Grubka, she has proven to be a very good weapon on all set pieces,” said head coach Mark Krikorian.  “She performed very well on the weekend”

“We have a lot of chances on corners,” said Grubka.  “I was getting frustrated with not being able to get my head on it, but then finally Tiana and I were able to connect on one.”

Freshman Michaela Hahn would account for the final goal of the afternoon in the 84th minute running in on a pass from Nora Kervroedan and finding the back of the net with a low lining blast from about 14 yards out for her first collegiate goal.

“Our kids were much sharper in the second half than they were in the first half,” added Krikorian.  “I also think the College of Charleston kids were a bit fatigued.  They did a lot of running and worked hard in the first half in their defending to slow us down.  In the second half, those gaps opened up a little bit more and we were able to play a little bit better.  We were able to capitalize on a few more chances.”

Kelsey Wys and Taylor Vancil combined for the shutout on Sunday as both Seminole keepers came through with a save. 

“I don’t think we came out as sharp as I hoped we would have come out, but part of that was also College of Charleston, they had a very good game plan and were very organized,” said Krikorian.  “We had a couple of chances early and did not put them in, but overall how can you be disappointed.  We picked up two wins on the weekend, two shutouts and scoring on set pieces and during the run of play.”

The College of Charleston registered the game’s first scoring chance in the sixth minute when Nicole Koretsky forced Wys into a diving save from down near the end line. 

Florida State’s first scoring opportunity came in the 21st minute when Brockway sent a long pass across the field to Carson Pickett on the left side, who fired a cross to the far post where McCarty one-timed a shot just wide right. 

Seconds later Pickett and McCarty teamed up on a give-and-go inside the Seminoles’ offensive third resulting in a shot by McCarty that sailed high and out of play. 

In the 26th minute, McCarty got behind the Cougar defense and made a run toward the goal but College of Charleston keeper Taylor Avery broke up the play with tackle from 15 yards out.  The loose ball went to the feet of Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who fired a shot on goal, but a Cougar defender was there on the line for the save.

After Grubka gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute, the Seminoles tried to add to their lead in the waning seconds of the first half when Jamia Fields sent a cross inside the 18-yard box to Brynjarsdottir.  The Icelandic midfielder beat a Cougar defender to the ball and one-timed a shot just wide of the right post. 

Florida State broke up the game with a pair of goals by McCarty in a span of one minute and 17 seconds in the second half.  The first goal came off an assist from Brynjarsdottir as McCarty made a nice move to her right to get around the Cougar keeper and blast a shot into the lower left corner to give the Seminoles a 2-0 lead. 

“I was really excited,” said McCarty on scoring her first two goals of the season.  “As a forward, it is always great to score your first goal of the season.  Plus, I was just excited that we were playing well.”

“I think she was as excited about it as all the rest of us,” added Krikorian. “The can is now open for her; hopefully she will keep dipping into and putting the ball into the back of the net.”

Moments later, Fields lofted a pass into the box where McCarty headed the ball past the outstretched arms of Avery for her second goal of the afternoon and a 3-0 FSU advantage. 

Grubka came within inches of recording her first career multi-goal game in the 70th minute as her header shot off a throw-in from Price was tipped over the crossbar by Avery.

Less than four minutes later, Marta Bakowska-Mathews sent a shot wide of the right post from 20 yards out following a College of Charleston defensive miscue. 

Hahn would cap the scoring in the 84th minute with her first goal of the season on a great pass from Kervroedan. 

Vancil, who made her first appearance of the season in the 59th minute, preserved the shutout with 83:30 on the clock as she made a fantastic diving save off a shot by McCallie Jones following a one-on-one situation.   

“Overall, our collective defending was good,” said Krikorian.  “Kelsey and Taylor were as solid as can be.  Taylor had to make a good save there at the end to preserve the shutout.  It was a good solid performance on a Sunday after a hard fought game on Friday.”

McCarty led all players with five shots, while Fields recorded four.  Freshman Kahlia Hogg, making her first collegiate start on Sunday finished with three shots. 

The Seminoles received a solid effort from the bench as Fields, Brynjarsdottir, Hahn, Pickett, Hikaru Murakami and Bakowska-Mathews all played over 32 minutes on Sunday.  Freshmen Nicole Fischer and Rylee Hart also made their collegiate debut in the win over the Cougars. 

Florida State finished the match with a 26-3 advantage in shots, while maintaining the edge in corner kicks at 8-1. 

“Playing two games in three days and getting two wins is always good,” added McCarty.  “But now we have to move on and get ready for Cal State Fullerton.”

The top-ranked Seminoles will return to the field on Friday, September 7 against Cal State Fullerton at 7:00 p.m. EST. The game will air live on ESPN3.  Live stats will be available via gametracker, while 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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