TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With its eighth shutout of the season, No. 2 Florida State (10-1-1, 3-0-1 ACC) extended its home winning streak to 17 straight matches with a 6-0 victory over Pitt (9-2-1, 3-1-0 ACC) on Saturday afternoon. The win also marked the 15th consecutive regular season ACC match without a loss (13-0-2) for the Noles and 23rd overall against conference opponents (21-0-2) including postseason contests.

 

“Overall, we were pretty solid throughout the game,” said FSU head coach mark Krikorian. “We gave up some good chances to them early in the game as our transition defending wasn’t sharp enough. I thought in the second half we limited that a little more. Another good performance against a top level ACC team.”

 

Pitt took the first shot of the game as Taylor Pryce, the reigning ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, took a solid shot on the right side from 20 yards in the sixth minute that was saved by FSU goalkeeper Cassie Miller.

 

Cheyna Williams opened the scoring in the ninth minute, making a run down the right side as Kaycie Tillman gave her the ball about 25 yards out. Williams made a move and dribbled across the face of the defender to create space and took a shot from 10 yards that slipped inside the right post for a 1-0 Florida State lead.

 

The Panthers nearly tied it up a minute later as a shot from Jarena Harmon from 20 yards went just wide of the goal and nearly found the foot of Pryce who made an excellent run on the backside as the ball was approaching the end line.

 

Natalia Kuikka made it 2-0 FSU in the 34th minute after winning the ball following a Pitt goal kick near midfield and dribbling it down into the Seminole offensive end. She started along the left side and then forced her way into the middle of the field. Once she reached the top of the box, she changed directions to take a shot that beat Pitt goalkeeper Taylor Francis for FSU’s second goal of the game.

 

The Noles extended the lead to 3-0 at 37:49 in the first half with a goal from Dallas Dorosy. Redshirt junior defender Kirsten Crowley started the scoring chance by finding Tillman on the right side who sent a cross through the box and past the keeper to the waiting Dorosy to put away from two yards out. It was Dorosy’s second goal of the season.

 

FSU scored 55 seconds later on a goal by Berglind Thorvaldsdottir off a cross from Tillman. Again, Tillman found a seam down the right side and sent in a ball, connecting with Thorvaldsdottir at the top of the six-yard box. The redshirt junior’s shot was blocked down by Pitt GK Francis, and Thorvaldsdottir easily scored on the rebound.

 

Florida State entered halftime with a 4-0 lead on the scoreboard, including three assists from Tillman. The three assists tied a school record for assists in the first half, matching Mami Yamaguchi’s performance against Kennesaw State on November 16, 2007. The three assists for the game also tied a school record, a feat accomplished seven previous times, most recently against South Alabama in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament as Emma Koivisto and Megan Campbell each recorded three assists in the 5-0 victory.

 

The Noles controlled possession in the second half, allowing just one shot by Pitt, a strike from nearly 30 yards by Roosa Arvas that was easily saved by Miller.

 

Kuikka scored her second goal of the game in the 51st minute as a Pitt foul just outside the penalty box gave FSU a free kick opportunity. Freshman Megan Connolly served in a great ball that found the head of Kuikka, who finished it to give the Noles a 5-0 lead.

 

Thorvaldsdottir wrapped up the game with a goal at 89:52, heading home a ball from Dorosy on a great cross from the left side.

 

The Noles outshot Pitt 20-4 for the game and had a 7-2 advantage in corners. FSU has recorded eight shutouts this season, including three against ACC opponents (Duke, Notre Dame and Pitt). All three conference shutouts have come against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA poll.

 

There were many excellent performances on Saturday afternoon as five different players earned multiple points for the game. Kuikka and Thorvaldsdottir each recorded four points with two goals each and the duo are tied with Williams for the team lead with five goals on the season. Tillman (three assists) and Dorosy (one goal and one assist) finished with three points for the game and Crowley earned two points on two assists.

 

Saturday’s match was also part of FSU’s annual Paint it Pink campaign to help raise awareness for breast cancer and raise funds for the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. The Seminoles wore special pink jerseys which will be auctioned off at Seminoles.com and a $10 donation at the game gave fans a pink T-shirt.

 

“This is such a fantastic event, supporting a great cause,” said Krikorian. “We’re glad that the crowd came out to support it as well. It was nice to look around and see so much pink out here and everyone unified for a common cause.

 

“The little bit that we do here is important to us. We want to make it known that causes like this are important to us and we have mothers, sisters and daughters that have been challenged by this. I know our kids embrace the opportunity to support such a great cause.”

 

The Seminoles remain at home next week with a pair of conference matchups against teams from the state of North Carolina. NC State (4-8-0, 0-3-0 ACC) will come to Tallahassee on Thursday, October 8 for a game starting at 7 p.m.

 

On Sunday, there will be a game between the two top teams in the nation as No. 2 FSU will host No. 1 UNC (11-0-1, 4-0-0) at 12 p.m. on October 11. The match between the Seminoles and the Tar Heels will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Networks and ESPN3 with Pete Pranica and Katie Witham on the call. Live stats for both games will be available on Seminoles.com.

 

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