Nov. 17, 2007

Clemson Women's Soccer Team Comes from Behind to Defeat Charlotte in NCAA Tournament First Round Friday

The Clemson women's soccer team came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Charlotte by a score of 4-2 in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament in Knoxville, TN on Friday night. The Lady Tigers scored four goals in a matter of 18 minutes in the second half at the University of Tennessee's Regal Soccer Stadium. It was the first time in program history that Clemson has overcome a 2-0 deficit to win an NCAA tournament contest.

The win was also the first in the NCAA Tournament for the Lady Tiger soccer program since a 1-0 victory over Florida State in the second round in 2001. Last season, Clemson tied three tournament contests and advanced in all three by winning penalty kicks en route to the 2006 NCAA Elite Eight.

Talonen's Hat Trick Powers Third-Seeded FSU To NCAA Tourney Win

Florida State remained perfect at home in the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 first round victory over Kennesaw State Friday. The Seminoles are 11-0-0 all-time at home in the postseason and FSU has never lost a first round match. Freshman Sanna Talonen recorded a first half hat trick and Mami Yamaguchi assisted on all three goals as Florida State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons. The win bolstered the Seminoles' record to 14-5-3 while the Owls finished their season at 17-4-0. Florida State will face the winner of LSU and Samford Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The shutout was the 10th of the season for Florida State and snapped Kennesaw State's streak of 18 straight games with a goal. It was the eighth postseason shutout for Florida State and it is the seventh straight season that the Seminoles have blanked their opening round opponent. This is the third straight season FSU has recorded at least 10 clean sheets. Prior to Krikorian taking over the program in 2005, the Seminoles had never recorded double digit shutouts in a year.

Tar Heels Ease Past High Point In NCAA Tournament First Round

North Carolina scored four goals in the opening 23 minutes en route to a 6-1 victory over High Point in the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament first round at Fetzer Field Friday night. Whitney Engen of the Tar Heels scored two goals and had one assist and Casey Nogueira scored her UNC season-high 12th goal of the season for the game-winner in the 15th minute.

The Big South Conference champion Panthers ended their season with an 11-8-3 record while UNC improved to 18-3-1 and will host an NCAA second round game Sunday at 1 p.m. against the winner of the second first round game at Fetzer Friday night -- UNC Greensboro.

Cavaliers Down Loyola 4-1 in NCAA First Round

The Virginia women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 opening round win over Loyola (Md.) Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers, who improved to 12-3-6 with the win meet William & Mary (15-4-2) in the second round Sunday.

The teams played to a scoreless first half with Virginia outshooting Loyola (10-6-5) 7-3 before the break. Virginia took the lead in the 51st minute as Nikki Krzysik (Clifton, N.J.) made a run forward, played a give-and-go with Meghan Lenczyk (McLean, Va.) and slid a shot inside the far post for her third goal of the season. Less than two minutes later the Greyhounds answered. Theresa Ferraina dribbled to the edge of the box, cut back towards the middle and fired a shot into the net to tie the game. Virginia retook the lead three minutes later. Caitlin Miskel's (Boca Raton, Fla.) cross was tapped by Lenczyk to Kelly Quinn (Dublin, Ohio), who fired the ball into the upper corner for her seventh goal of the season. In the 74th minute, Shannon Foley (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) received a ball on the far sideline, dribbled down the end line to the six-yard box before placing a shot into the net for her team-leading ninth goal of the year. Julia Falk (Clifton, Va.) closed the scoring in the 89th minute as she fired a cross from Amy Hemenway (Charlottesville, Va.) just under the crossbar for her fourth goal of the season.

Wake Opens NCAAs with 2-1 Win Over Boston University

The No. 18 Wake Forest women's soccer team defeated the Boston University Terriers 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at Boston College on Friday evening.

The fourth-seeded Demon Deacons (13-6-3) will now face Connecticut (13-5-1), who advanced after defeating host school Boston College in penalty kicks 5-4, on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Allie Sadow netted her first game-winner of the season in the 56th minute, giving the Deacs the final advantage of the night. Amy Smerdzinski got the Deacons on the board early in the match, taking an assist from Samantha Germano in the 7th minute.

Duke Wins In Penalty Kicks To Advance

For the second straight year, the Duke women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA College Cup off penalty kicks as the Blue Devils registered a 4-1 penalty kick win over 23rd-ranked South Carolina (14-6-3) at the Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, Ga. Out of the last eight appearances in the NCAA College Cup, Duke (8-5-7) has advanced to the second round in each of them.

After the Duke bus got lost on the way to the field and arrived only 35 minutes prior to kickoff, the Blue Devils wasted no time getting on the attack as the Blue Devils totaled a corner kick four minutes into the match. Freshman Rebecca Allen then collected a header that was saved and a shot that was wide in the seventh minute for the Blue Devils.

Boston College Stumbles On Penalty Kicks To UConn

It was the battle of old Big East foes as Boston College and Connecticut took the field for a first round match of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. The battle lasted through regulation and two overtimes before ending with the Huskies advancing to the next round on penalty kicks, 0-0 (5-4 PK's), over the Eagles.

The Eagles finish the season with an 11-5-4 record, while the Huskies move to the second round with a 12-5-4 record. The Huskies will face Wake Forest, who defeated BU 2-1 in the first game, on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Newton Soccer Field.

Strong Second Half Pushes Florida Past Miami in NCAA Tournament

Freshman Karly Findorff scored two goals in two minutes as the third-seeded University of Florida women's soccer team used a strong second half to defeat Miami, 3-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at James G. Pressly Stadium on Friday evening.

The host Gators advance to Sunday's second round to take on UCF, while the Hurricanes close a strong season that included notice in the national polls, wins over two top-10 teams, a program-best fifth-place finish in the ACC and individual recognition for a handful of Hurricanes - including ACC Freshman of the Year Brittney Steinbruch and ACC Coach of the Year Tricia Taliaferro, who worked diligently with her staff and players to complete an impressive turnaround from the 2006 season.