(13) FSU soccer settles for a draw with N.C. State on a controversial buzzer beater

(13) Florida State (RPI #4) 10-3-2 (3-3-1 ACC) settled for a 1-1 tie today in Tallahassee against NC State (RPI #18) 9-4-3 (2-3-2 ACC). The game was originally scheduled for Friday evening but it was moved to Saturday due to Hurricane Michael.

Game Recap

FSU started off strong. In the 8th minute Kristina Lynch drove the ball into the box from the left side. She found Kaycie Tillman in the middle of the box with a cross. Tillman took a shot that was headed for just inside the post. However, Wolfpack keeper Sydney Wootten made an excellent save to deny the Seminole senior.

The Wolfpack didn’t have many chances in this game but one came in the 14th minute. Ella Bonner sent a long ball down the field to Kia Rankin. Rankin got off a shot but Brooke Bollinger did a good job cutting off her angle and was able to deflect the shot.

In the 20th minute Yujie Zhao tried her luck from distance but Wootten was perfectly placed to catch the shot.

In the 22nd minute Kristen McFarland sent a pass into the box for Tillman. Tillman was dispossessed but Zhao was able to collect it in the box. Zhao made a move but was fouled by Anna Toohey. The referee immediately pointed to the spot awarding the Seminoles a penalty kick. Deyna Castellanos stepped up to take it but she mishit her shot and Wootten was able to make the save on a relatively slow rolling ball.

In the 23rd minute Jaelin Howell stole the ball at midfield. Howell drove the ball into the box and got off a nice shot on goal but Wootten was again up to the task as she blocked the ball away from the goal.

In the 25th minute Castellanos slipped a gorgeous pass that found Anna Patten in the box. Patten delivered a dangerous shot that clanged off the crossbar.

In the 29th minute FSU earned a corner kick. Castellanos took it and delivered a dangerous cross. Anna Patten was there to get a head on it but Wootten came up with an outstanding save to deny the Noles yet again.

In the 66th minute Zhao executed a beautiful back heel pass to Castellanos in the box. Deyna was able to quickly turn and fire off a shot. Unfortunately for FSU Wootten was there for another impressive save.

In the 69th minute Zhao stepped up big time for Florida State. She collected the ball after Tillman was dispossessed. Zhao then beat three Pack defenders and slipped the ball under Wootten to give FSU a 1-0 lead.

In the 71st minute Tillman had the ball in the middle of the box with her back to the goal. She found Patten trailing the play inside the box. Patten delivered a hard shot that would have snuck inside the right goal post but Wootten made another fine save to keep her team within striking distance.

In the 76th minute Megan Connolly sent a dangerous ball across the NC State goal. Olivia Bergau was there to direct the ball on goal but Wootten was again up to the task to stop the Noles.

In the 79th minute Deyna Castellanos collected a pass from Tillman. Deyna had space and she cracked a shot from about 30 feet out that was on goal but was saved by Wootten. Also in the 79th Connolly tracked down a ball on the right flank. She delivered a cross for Olivia Bergau inside the box. Bergau streaked across and hit a one timer that was headed for the upper left hand corner of the goal. Wootten used every bit of her 5’6 frame to stretch out and tip the ball. It hit off the crossbar and was cleared by the Pack defense.

In the 90th minute there was controversy. The Wolfpack earned a corner kick when Ella Bonner was challenged by Anna Patten. The ball went over the touchline off Patten. Bonner stayed down injured. Time was ticking off the clock. With four seconds left in the game - and Bonner still down - the Pack took the corner. Hannah Keough took it for NC State. She sent the ball into the box. Bollinger leaped up and got two hands on it but the ball went through her hands and fell perfectly for Taylor Porter who knocked it into the back of the net. The officials huddled to determine whether the goal should count. Ultimately they determined that it should count and the goal tied the score at 1-1.

With the naked eye it was extremely difficult to determine whether the shot crossed the goal line with time left on the clock. Using replay it looked like Porter had the shot off with one second showing on the clock but the ball didn’t totally cross the line before all zeroes were showing on the clock.

Under the Laws of Soccer, Law 10 - The Method of Scoring states:

It doesn’t mention anything about time but the implication is that the goal must be scored (whole of the ball passing over the goal line) within the regulation time period. After looking at the replay it doesn’t appear that this happened. Therefore the goal should have been disallowed. Unfortunately for FSU the referee didn’t see it that way and the game went into overtime.

In the 103rd minute Castellanos went down with an injury. It was unclear what caused the injury but the Seminole star was grabbing the back of her right leg. She had to be helped off the field and she didn’t return.

In the 105th minute Kristen McFarland received a pass inside the box from Kaycie Tillman. McFarland was able to turn and fire a shot but it went high and wide.

From there neither team was able to create a dangerous opportunity and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Post Game

Florida State outshot North Carolina State 37-5. The Noles also had 18 shots on goal to only two for the Pack. NC State’s goal was their only shot of the second half.

Sydney Wootten was brilliant for the Pack. The Seminoles forced her into 17 saves while Brooke Bollinger only had one for FSU.

The Seminoles had 13 corner kicks while the Wolfpack only had one. However their only goal came off of it.

The numbers tell the tale of this game. FSU dominated and thoroughly outplayed the Pack everywhere but on the scoreboard.

This game was defined by stellar play from Wootten and missed opportunities by Florida State. FSU dominated possession and got many good looks but the Noles just couldn’t put enough of them away.

Next Game

Florida State will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pitt Panthers on Thursday, October 18th. The game will kick at 7pm and will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra.