Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Florida State
Deacons Fall to FSU in ACC Championship Game Shootout
11/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2011
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CARY, N.C. - Florida State's Tiffany McCarty scored an equalizing goal in the 85th minute and Seminole goalkeeper Kelsey Wys saved three Demon Deacon penalty kicks as Wake Forest lost a shootout 3-1 to Florida State in the 2011 ACC Women's Soccer Championship Match, after the two sides had played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The Deacons (14-3-4) came up just short in their effort to win their second consecutive ACC title. Florida State's (14-6-1) championship was its first in the history of the program. Wake Forest will await the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, which will be streamed on NCAA.com on Monday at 4:30 p.m.
"We just want to congratulate Florida State on a great game today," said Wake Forest head coach Tony da Luz. "They're a great opponent for us, and I think everyone saw a pretty good soccer game today. We're disappointed for sure. This feeling is definitely a lot different than last year, but I thought we battled hard through all three games in the tournament and played really well. We're on an upturn playing well together going into the NCAA Tournament, so I'm happy with our performance."
After the two teams had played a tight possession game through the first half, Katie Stengel cleaned up the rebound of a Jackie McSally shot to put Wake Forest in front in the 64th minute, but McCarty finally broke through for the Seminoles in the 85th minute after a running onto a through ball from Jessica Price to knot the game at 1-1. Neither team could find a goal in overtime, sending the game to penalty kicks.
Despite giving up the late goal, the Deacons had to feel confident going into penalties, given that they had prevailed twice in shootouts en route to winning last year's tournament. But this year the Seminoles had the advantage. Florida State's Hikaru Murakami and Wake Forest's Rachel Nuzzolese each converted their team's first attempts, but Seminole keeper Wys saved shots by Alisha Woodson, Katie Stengel and India Winford in succession while CC Cobb and Marta Bakowska-Matthews for the `Noles converted to give Florida State the championship.
"I think (Wys saving my penalty kick) was a combination of her possibly watching film on us from last year's games, and also I shot it a little bit too high for any penalty kick," said Woodson.
"I think Florida State definitely did a good job of scouting us on penalties because (Wys) guessed right every time," da Luz. "We had the same kickers from last year. We went with our experience in the shootout situation, but in hindsight we probably should have at least had them shoot to the other side."
Wake Forest's Stengel, Aubrey Bledsoe, Rachel Nuzzolese and Kim Marshall made the ACC All-Tournament team, with Stengel, Nuzzolese and Marshall the team's only unanimous selections. The Deacons put four players on the All-Tournament team for the second year in a row, with Bledsoe and Stengel earning repeat honors.
Stengel's goal was her 14th of the season, tying her with Jill Hutchinson for second place on the Wake Forest single-season scoring chart. Stengel holds the school record with 16 goals scored last year. Her 30 career goals are the third-most in school history.
Jackie McSally assisted on the play, giving her eight points in six career ACC Tournament games.
Wys made four saves in net for Florida State. Bledsoe made only one save for Wake Forest but it was an absolute beauty in the 107th minute that robbed Tiana Brockway of the game-winning goal.
The first half featured both teams holding possession but not generating many offensive opportunities. Kim Marshall had the best chance for Wake Forest in the 42nd minute when she volleyed a Jessica Mandarich corner kick just over the bar from close range.
Tori Huster had a good look for the Seminoles with under a minute remaining in the opening, hitting a shot from just outside the box that went over the cross bar.
Katie Stengel scored the Wake Forest goal in the 65th minute. Rachel Nuzzolese hit a corner kick into the box that rattled around before Jackie McSally put a strong header on frame. Wys made the save but Stengel was right there for the rebound and smashed it into the net from two yards out.
Tiffany McCarty equalized for FSU in the 86th minute after Jessica Price slipped a through ball between two defenders that she ran onto and slotted a low shot past Aubrey Bledsoe.
Wake Forest had a chance to net the game-winner early in the first overtime period. Stengel took a shot that was blocked, but the rebound rolled to Nuzzolese who ripped a shot from the right side of the box that went just wide of the left post.
Brockaway came close to winning the game for the Seminoles in the 107th minute, taking a shot from the top of the box that Bledsoe was just able to push over the bar.
