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Overtime header nets victory for FSU girls

By WILL BROWN

The Tallahassee Democrat

Published: October 22, 2009

If Ella Stephan was going to score against second-ranked North Carolina, it was going to be on a header.

Sure enough in the 110th and final minute of Florida State's match against the Tar Heels, the sophomore rose over two defenders to head in a corner kick for a dramatic 3-2 overtime win for the Seminoles.

"If I'm going to score, that's how I'm going to score," Stephan said about her second goal of the season. "I'm not good at shooting, but when it comes to using your body and getting behind the ball, I can do that with my head."

Not only did the victory snap a 14-game winless streak against North Carolina, it put the Seminoles atop the Atlantic Coast Conference with 16 points from seven matches.

"It was an exciting game and I was happy we were able to slow the game and link some passes together," said FSU head coach Mark Krikorian.

In the 65th minute North Carolina's Lucy Bronze had time and space down the right wing to pick out Meghan Klingenberg, whose perfectly placed half-volley tied the game.

Less than 90 seconds later UNC again had space down the right flank, this time it was forward Jessica McDonald who was the beneficiary. The junior forward rose to meet the service, heading the ball near-post to stun the capacity crowd at the FSU Soccer Complex.

"Peaks and valleys occur during parts of the game, but against Carolina you have to minimize them," Krikorian said.

The Tar Heels legendary coach Anson Dorrance gave Florida State all the credit for thrice breaching one of the best defenses he has had in his 31 years in Chapel Hill.

"Being down a goal was real challenge," Dorrance said. "As excited as I was (for the equalizer), I was completely despondent following the two goals."

In the 85th minute Florida State exploited the defense with a perfectly weighted ball from central defender Tiana Brockway to midfielder Amanda DaCosta, who used her strength to shield a Carolina defender and coolly slot a shot between Harris' legs for the tying goal.

"In the attacking third, you have to take risks," DaCosta said about Florida State's earlier missed opportunities. "You can't let it get to you because you'll miss when it counts."

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