Ask legendary Florida State head coach Mike Martin how difficult it can be to break through and win that coveted national championship. Florida State soccer was in a similar position before breaking through for its first national title on this day five years ago.
FSU had reached the College Cup seven times in the previous 11 years and had lost to UCLA in overtime in the national championship match the year prior as it got set to take on Virginia in South Florida on Dec. 7, 2014. The Seminoles had outscored opponents 16-0 in five NCAA Tournament matches as they arrived for the title game in Boca Raton with a 23-1-1 record.
Prior to the NCAA Tournament, FSU topped Virginia 1-0 for the ACC Championship. With the national championship on the line, the Seminoles did it again.
The teams combined for 15 shots as the contest remained scoreless into the final 10 minutes. FSU’s Jamia Fields would finally break the scoreless tie in the 83rd minute as her shot was able to get past Virginia goalkeeper Morgan Stearns for the only goal of the match. Cheyna Williams, who had scored the only two goals for the Seminoles in the semifinal match against Stanford, assisted on the play.
FSU goalkeeper Cassie Miller did not have to make a save in the victory as the Seminoles joined 2003 North Carolina as the only national champions to not allow a goal during the NCAA Tournament. Fields, Williams and Miller were all named to the All-College Cup team for FSU as were Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Kristin Grubka and Isabella Schmid.
FSU would go 20-0-1 over its final 21 matches to accomplish the greatest season in program history at the time. The Seminoles would add a second national championship in 2018, but as the saying goes, “you always remember your first”. For FSU head coach Mark Krikorian, that memory came on this day five years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
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