Women's soccer draws No. 2/defending national champ FSU, 1-1

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Draw Defending National Champions No. 2 FSU 1-1 At Home

DALLAS (SMU) — In a defensive battle, the SMU women's soccer program drew the defending national champions, No. 2 Florida State, 1-1 on Sunday inside Washburne Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, Nyah Rose gave the Mustangs the lead halfway in the second, but the Seminoles would answer late to end the match in a draw.

Rose scored her 15th career goal and netted her fourth goal in five matches played this season. The Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree has now scored in two of her last three matches since returning from playing with Team Canada in the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup.

Rose's goal was only the third goal allowed by FSU this season and the Mustangs are only the second team to hold the number two nationally ranked scoring offense to one goal this year.

Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde recorded a season-high nine saves, including two saves on back-to-back shots from inside the box with five minutes left in the match.

The SMU backline blocked multiple shots during the match and made FSU work for their opportunities. Defender Sophie King made a sliding block with 30 seconds left in the match to deny FSU a chance at scoring the match-winning goal. As a team, SMU had eight saves in the second half, ending the match with a season-high of 10.

With the draw, SMU remains unbeaten in conference action and is now 6-3-2 (2-0-2) on the year. Florida State moves to 6-0-2 (1-0-1) this season. SMU is one of six ACC teams that remain unbeaten in conference action.

// HOW IT HAPPENED
Stout defensive play was on display all match long from both team's as the score was tied 0-0 heading into the half with shots 6-4 for FSU. Even though the Mustangs were outshot the opportunities the team had were good looks as SMU had two free runs at the net but could not find the back of the net.

Late in the first half, Kelly Gordon drove deep into the box, drew a foul, and was rewarded with a penalty shot.

Junior Lou Brossault converted the initial penalty kick but was called back for players entering the 18 too early. FSU denied Truth Byars's on the penalty kick do-over, and the match remained even.
Coming out of the break , Eliana Salama broke free up the middle of the pitch and had a one-on-one with the FSU goalkeeper, but a diving save kept SMU from breaking the scoreless tie.

SMU found the back of the net first as Nyah Rose danced by a defender and sent a shot from the goal line that deflected off FSU's keepers' back and into the back of the net in the 67th minute.
SMU continued to battle on defense as Florida State turned up the pressure offensively. FSU equalized the match in the 71st minute on a rocket from Ashlyn Puerta.

The Mustangs had a few more good looks as Rose and Liz Eddy sent shots over the crossbar late in the match, but it was the Seminoles who continued to attack on offense, outshooting the Mustangs 14-6 in the period.

FSU was determined to grab the lead late in the match, but multiple blocked shots from the SMU backline and eight saves in the second half from Cota-Yarde kept the match tied.

// OTHER NOTES
SMU is now 0-1-1 against FSU. Sunday's match was the first overall meeting between the two programs in Dallas.
It was the first time in program history that SMU drew the number two team in the nation. SMU lost to Portland in the teams only other match versus a team ranked second in the country.
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 27-13-8 overall.
The Mustangs are now 468-243-61 all-time in program history.

[Lotus]

Let's shock the Noles twice in a week!

[birddogger]

I've enjoyed watching the successes of all or our women's teams. The competition is much tougher, yet they are up to the task.