All’s perfect for FSU
In battle of unbeatens, ’Noles romp past Stanford to capture 4th national title
A matchup of the top-ranked offense against the top-ranked defense was no contest as Florida State defeated Stanford 5-1 in the NCAA women’s soccer championship game Monday in Cary, North Carolina.
Florida State repeatedly ran past Stanford’s back line as a Cardinal team that had only allowed 10 goals all season before Monday gave up five in a game for the first time since a secondround tournament loss to BYU in 2000.
“We just got caught in transition a little bit, and they were so fast and all credit to them,” said Ryan Campbell, Stanford’s sophomore goalkeeper. “They just came out quick and capitalized on every opportunity.”
Campbell led the nation with a 0.38 goals-against average, and Stanford (20-1-4) hadn’t allowed more than one goal in a game all season. But Florida State scored twice in 26 seconds midway through the first half.
Florida State (22-0-1) became the first undefeated champion in over a decade, joining the 2011 Stanford squad that went 23-0. The Seminoles and Cardinal (20-1-4) also made history as the first NCAA Division I women’s national championship game pitting two undefeated teams.
FSU freshman Jordynn Dudley started the scoring in the 29th minute when she was tripped by Stanford’s Mia Bhuta in the box and converted the ensuing penalty kick. Just 26 seconds later Jamaican international Jody Brown got behind the defense and scored off the crossbar to make it 2-0.
“They have a front five with great individual flair,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “They’re athletic, they’re technically good, and they have the goalscoring mentality.
“I think it didn’t help, obviously, that we conceded a penalty early, and that broke the ice for them and built their confidence.”
FSU was the first team since 2015 to not allow a goal in the first five rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Still, the Cardinal did get one back six minutes into the second half when graduate midfielder Maya Doms dribbled across the box and shot into the upper corner for her sixth goal in the last eight games.
FSU scored in the 58th minute when Beata Olsson raced past Kennedy Wesley and scored, and Brown added her second goal in the 61st minute. The Seminoles closed the scoring in the 85th minute to reach five goals for the third time in the NCAA Tournament and finish with a nation’s best 75 goals.
It was the most goals scored in a championship match since North Carolina beat Connecticut 6-0 in 2003. Doms’s goal was Stanford’s only shot on goal, and the Cardinal were outshot 16-5.
It was the fourth national title in 10 seasons for the Seminoles (22-0-1), who became the first undefeated champion in 12 years.
In addition to that 2011 title, the Cardinal added championships in 2017 and 2019.