TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 14 Penn State women's soccer team concluded its 25th season as a varsity program with a 1-0 loss to No. 5-ranked, and No. 1-seeded, Florida State in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
"I'll just start off by saying congratulations to Florida State, that's a heck of a soccer team we played against today," head coach Erica Dambach said. "They're disciplined, organized and a very special player scored a very special goal today. Credit to the environment here in Tallahassee, what they've created here in terms of the crowd and the excitement surrounding women's soccer. That's what we want and whether that's home or at an opponent's field, this is exactly the environment we want to see wherever we go. With that quality of soccer that everyone saw today, I think we will continue to see the fans come.
"I am incredibly proud of the performance we put on today. I thought that our team played extremely well at times. It was a soccer game I expected. Two good teams playing very good soccer and that it was going to come down to a really special moment or two from really special players and they found that moment, credit to them. We needed to test the goalkeeper a little bit more and we failed to do that, so ultimately at this moment I am just incredibly proud of my team."
The two teams went into halftime tied at 0-0 with Penn State (18-6-1) outshooting Florida State (18-4-3), 6-2.
Over the first 45 minutes of play, both goalkeepers had to each make one save. In the fifth minute of play, Amanda Dennis made her first save of the afternoon with a stop on Deyna Castellanos.
The Nittany Lions looked to get on the board in the 41st minute on a header from Kim Dubs, but Caroline Jeffers picked up her first save to keep the score at 0-0.
The second half of play saw the Seminoles outshoot Penn State, 6-2.
With the score still knotted at 0-0, Castellanos put the Seminoles in front during the 53rd minute as she connected on a shot from distance.
Looking to add to its lead, Florida State's Kaycie Tillman put two shots on goal from close range in the 78th minute, but Dennis was there to make both saves.
Penn State had a great look to even things up in the 83rd minute. Following a foul outside the box, Alina Ortega Jurado took a shot off a set piece, but her attempt went wide right of the net.
NOTES: Florida State leads the all-time series against Penn State, 3-2-0…Shots were tied at eight apiece…Emily Ogle started/played in her 100th career game…Ogle is the eighth Nittany Lion to play in 100 career games…Penn State will graduate seniors Maddie Nolf, Emily Ogle, Alina Ortega Jurado, Marissa Sheva and Charlotte Williams…Penn State's goals-against average of 0.51 this season ranks tied for third all-time in school history (2015)…Penn State allowed just 13 goals on the year, which is the best mark under Coach Dambach...Ogle finished her career 22nd in points (61), tied for 22nd in goals (20), tied for 16th in assists (21), tied for the program lead in penalty kicks made (nine)...Williams finished her career 23rd in points (56), tied for 14th in assists (24) and 12th in shots attempted (220)...Penn State played in its fourth NCAA quarterfinal match in five seasons (2014, '15, '17 & '18).