Florida State slips by UNC in the final of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship

“Same team, same stadium,” Florida State senior forward Dallas Dorosy said.

And the same result.

Dorosy came off the bench to score the only goal in the 60th minute and was named the game’s most outstanding offensive player as she led the Seminoles to the NCAA women’s soccer championship with a 1-0 victory over North Carolina on Sunday.

The largest crowd to see a college match in Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park – 12,512 – saw fifth-ranked Florida State (20-4-3) deny third-ranked UNC (21-4-2) its 22nd NCAA championship. In the process, the Seminoles picked up their second title, having won also in 2014.

Dorosy’s seventh goal of the season was her fifth in the NCAA tournament and provided an appropriate bookend to her career. Her freshman season at FSU ended with a College Cup semifinal loss to Duke here at WakeMed.

“As a senior, you realize it’s your last run,” she said of her postseason scoring effort.

Because its campus facility was being renovated, UNC played 14 matches at WakeMed this season, including the last 12 of the campaign.

But it was Florida State that looked right at home here.

For the second time in a month, Dorosy supplied the game-winner to claim a trophy at WakeMed. She scored two goals in FSU’s 3-2 victory over UNC in the ACC tournament final, avenging a regular-season home loss to the Tar Heels.

It was the first time in four College Cup trips here that the Tar Heels, who have an all-time mark of 25-4-2 at WakeMed, failed to win the championship.

FSU was playing in its fourth final, having lost in overtime to UCLA here in 2013.

The Seminoles got their goal seconds before the hour mark when junior forward Deyna Castellanos, FSU’s Venezuelan international star, broke in on the right flank and sent a diagonal ball through two defenders into the box.

Dorosy redirected the ball just inside the near post for the score.

“We didn’t close with our first defender, and all of a sudden they get the ball across,” UNC coach Anson Dorrance said.

To that point, both teams had successfully clogged up the middle of the field to prevent attacks. UNC especially targeted Castellanos, who excels as a playmaker and finisher, and denied her much space with the ball.

“We’re talking about the margins being so small with their quality players and our quality players,” FSU coach Mark Krikorian said.

“When that one moment pops up, one of the playmakers finds that spot. … Both teams had limited chances at goal, but fortunately for us we had the quality to finish the one good chance we got.”

It was only the second shot of the second half for the Seminoles, who were content to hang back defensively for the final 30 minutes. The Tar Heels pressed their attack and eventually evened the shooting stats at 8-8 after being outshot 6-2 in the first half but couldn’t come up with an answer.

UNC’s best opportunity came on a corner kick in the 36th minute. Freshman forward Rachael Dorwart sent a header inches wide of the far post, but it was an effort the Tar Heels couldn’t duplicate.

Despite a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks, UNC never got off another shot on one of those setpieces.

UNC defender Julia Ashley, usually a target on corner kicks, said Florida State did a good job of marking her on restarts.

“In the first half I was being man marked,” Ashley said. “At halftime we talked about how (Alex Kimball) and I were going for the same ball. Since we knew I was being marked tight, I was going to drive out, and AK and I were going to switch so I could get their center out of there.”

“When you play a conference opponent, they know your personnel,” Dorrance said.

Samantha Leshnak made two saves in goal for UNC. Caroline Jeffers, the former East Carolina transfer, also had two for FSU. Jeffers was playing in place of FSU’s regular goalkeeper, Brooke Bollinger, who was injured in the ACC final and did not play in the six NCAA tournament matches.

FSU midfielder Jaelin Howell was named the outstanding defensive player of the tournament. Joining her and Dorosy on the all-tournament team were four members of an FSU defense that did not allow a goal all weekend, Jeffers and defenders Gabby Carle, Natalia Kuikka, and Malia Berkely.

UNC was represented by Ashley, who had the double-overtime goal that beat Georgetown on Friday, midfielder Dorian Bailey, and defender Emily Fox.

The final two places went to Stanford forward Catarina Macario and Georgetown forward Kyra Carusa.

This story was originally published December 2, 2018 at 3:22 PM.