Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
3-3-2
Florida State
6-0-0
Owls Push Seminoles, Come Up Short
9/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2006
BOCA RATON, FL -- A facility record 612 fans turned out to see the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team play the No. 1 team in the country, Florida State, on Sunday at FAU Field.
The Seminoles came away with a 2-1 victory, but FAU proved a formidable foe with another strong showing against FSU.
"They played the best game of the year against the best team in the country," head coach Brian Dooley said. "The most impressive thing today is the fact that we were disappointed with the loss. The players wanted to win this game."
The Owls, who have had to come from behind in all but two games (both shutout victories) in every game this season, found themselves in that position once again early. Just 2:28 into the game, a miscommunication between the FAU defense allowed India Trotter to intercept a pass and fire a shot on the Owls' starting goalkeeper Megan Coyne.
Coyne would make the initial save, but couldn't control the rebound and Iraia Iturregi would finish the play at the 2:36 mark for the game's first goal and a 1-0 Florida State lead.
The Seminoles continued to dominate the play for the early portion of the first half. But once the early nerves settled, the Owls began to work their way back into the game, loose ball by loose ball. Then in the 37th minute, Alicia Tirelli took a pass near the midfield circle. She dribbled past one FSU defender, split two more, and slid a shot past FSU goalkeeper Ali Mims.
The goal was FAU's first in 216:37 of play versus Florida State, spanning the three-game series. It was Tirelli's fourth goal in her last five games, and gives her a five-game point streak.
Exactly two minutes later, the Owls nearly took the lead on another outstanding individual effort by Tirelli, but her shot sailed just wide, narrowly missing the far upper corner. The Owls controlled the final 15 minutes of play in the first half, and the score was tied, 1-1, after 45 minutes.
Florida State held the shots advantage 9-6 after the first half, 6-2 in shots on goal.
India Trotter, who was credited with an assist on the first FSU goal, tested sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Badders early with a shot just 1:25 into the second half. Badders was equal to the task, keeping the score at 1-1.
In the 63rd minute Trotter would get another chance, and this time would convert. She took a cross from Iturregi who was stationed to the right side of the goal mouth and tapped the cross past Badders for the Seminoles' second goal.
FAU would mount one more offensive attack when they forced a pair of corner kicks 61 seconds apart starting in the 68th minute, but couldn't muster a shot attempt.
The Seminoles nearly added an insurance tally when Mami Yamaguchi clanked a shot off the crossbar in the 72nd minute. In a final gasp, Tessa McGarrity's header was snagged by Mims, and the Owls' effort came up just short.
When asked if he would like another chance at FSU (this could only happen in the NCAA College Cup postseason tournament), Dooley simply smiled.
"I would be honored to have a chance to play this team again," he said.
Team Stats
Iraia Iturregi (1)
Assisted By: India Trotter
off the rebound after a turnover in the
2:36
TIRELLI, ALICIA (4)
Dribbled ball from midfield into box
36:37
India Trotter (2)
Assisted By: Iraia Iturregi
crossed from outside the box 20 to 2 tap
62:49
