The Florida State soccer team advanced to the 12th College Cup in program history on Friday with a thrilling 1-0 overtime win against No. 2-seeded Michigan.
FSU, the top seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and the nation's No. 1-ranked team for a majority of season, used a goal from sophomore Beata Ollssen with just 54 seconds remaining in the first overtime period to snare the win.
The Seminoles (19-1-2) will again head to the final four of NCAA women's soccer, just two victories away from the third national title in school history. FSU has now reached the College Cup in eight of the past 11 seasons.
"Everybody that came to this game was treated to one heck of a college soccer game," FSU coach Mark Krikorian said. "We all feel fortunate to be able to advance and looking forward for the opportunity to go back to the College Cup and compete again with some really good teams."
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Early on, FSU and Michigan (18-3-3) waged a defensive battle that yielded only a combined six shots through the first half. FSU had a goal called back early in the 8th minute due to an offsides call.
Then, star midfielder and senior Yujie Zhao was injured and was carted off the field in the 14th minute. Zhao, who returned to the game in the second half, is a four-time All-ACC performer.
Kirkorian said it was a bit of a relief to have Zhao back on the field, even though he believed younger players would have stepped up, too.
"I thought it was quite important," Krikorian said. "She is a wonderfully talented player and is so important to the way that we play."
In the second half, FSU controlled the pace and outshot Michigan seven to four. The 'Noles had a great chance to clinch things in regulation with a free kick in the 73rd minute. Senior Jaelin Howell nearly sneaked one past the 'keeper, but she just missed left of the goal.
The game seemed to be heading for a second overtime period with less than a minute to play, but FSU held possession on the Wolverines' side of the field. Howell passed it across the field to the open senior Gabby Carle, then after Michigan 'keeper Hillary Beall dove to defend Carle, the Seminole senior laid it up to Olssen for the walk-off goal.
"I was actually waiting, because that was a great serve from Jae, and the header from Gabby was incredible, so I thought it might go in by itself," Olssen said when breaking down the game-winning shot. "I didn't want to risk it. So I just tapped it."
Fittingly, Howell and Carle each were part of the final sequence in what will be their final home games as Seminoles. An All American last year, Howell won the 2021 ACC Midfielder of the Year and is a four-time All-ACC member.
"With Gabby, Jaelin, and Gianna Mitchell made just fantastic contributions to our program. The winning is really the obvious part," Krikorian said of his senior class. "I think all of these three young women have contributed far greater things to our program than simply being outstanding players. ... I'm feeling lucky that I've had this opportunity to work with them."
FSU will face the winner of No. 1 seed Rutgers and No. 2 seed Arkansas in Santa Clara, Calif., next Friday. The national title game will be played Sunday, Dec. 5.
"We've seen it all season, since the start of preseason, our team is a resilient group. They've hard-working. They play hard for each other. They are willing to do what it takes to win," Krikorian said. "We saw the fortitude of the group. The willingness of them to play hard for each other to make that moment happen. We saw a lot of that throughout the course of the game."
Stay connected with Warchant.com for more postgame coverage.
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