Florida State wins 2021 NCAA DI women's soccer College Cup final
Florida State wins the 2021 DI women's soccer national championship in PKs
Florida State defeated BYU 4-3 in penalties to capture the 2021 DI women's soccer national championship. Yujie Zhao knocked in the last penalty to win the Seminoles their third national title.
Click here to watch our interview with Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian.
Click here to watch our interview with Jaelin Howell.
It was a defensive battle between the 'Noles and the Cougars in the first half, with both teams combining for just five shots. BYU would put a bit of pressure on Florida State in the second half, but goalkeeper Cristina Roque and her defense would fend off the attack.
The first and second overtime would be more of the same, but this time the Seminoles were maintaining majority of possession and defending against BYU counter attacks. Ultimately, no team would find the back of the net, and for the third year in a row, the DI women's soccer championship would come down to penalties.
Last year, FSU was on the wrong side of the PKs losing to Santa Clara. This time around, the Seminoles did not let the moment slip away.
BYU's Mikayla Colohan and FSU's Clara Robbins both made their shots to start the shootout. Jamie Shepard had her shot blocked by Florida State's Cristina Roque and Heather Payne converted her penalty to give Florida State a 2-1 lead. Unlike her teammate, Brecken Mozingo would be able to beat Roque to tie it at two. Gabby Carle had her shot blocked by BYU goalkeeper Cassidy Smith to keep it at two a piece. Roque would come up big once again to stop Bella Folino and shortly after, Jaelin Howell gave the Seminoles the 3-2 advantage.
With the Cougars down to their last chance, it would all come down to Olivia Wade to keep BYU alive. She would do just that with a strike to the bottom-left corner. Now, Yujie Zhao could walk it off. With a stutter-step approach to the ball, she froze Smith and secured FSU's third national title.
WINNER @FSUSoccer!!#WCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/sju2uDf3OO
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 7, 2021
FSU, BYU head to PKs to decide 2021 champion
Still tied 0-0 after 2OT. Florida State and BYU will go to penalty kicks to decide who will be the 2021 DI women's soccer national champion.
Tied 0-0 after 90 minutes
After 90 scoreless minutes, we are headed to overtime for the third consecutive year in the NCAA Division I women's soccer championship.
BYU leads in total shots, 8-5, and in shots on goal, 3-1.
Traditional overtime rules will be followed: two ten minute overtime periods will be played, with a break between. The first goal scored will win in a sudden victory format. If after 20 extra minutes we are still scoreless, the match will be recorded as a draw and the tiebreaker will be determined by penalty kicks.
Tied 0-0 at the half, Mikayla Colohan set to re-enter the match
We are still scoreless in this national championship matchup after the first 45.
Notably in the first half, Mikayla Colohan was carried off the field after a collision with Jaelin Howell of Florida State. Per head coach Jennifer Rockwood, Colohan will be coming back in during the second half.
BYU leads Florida State in shots 3-2, and in shots on goal, 1-0. There have been 11 total fouls in this game so far, including one yellow card given to Jaelin Howell after her collision with Mikayla Colohan.
Mikayla Colohan carried off the field
After a collision between Jaelin Howell and Mikayla Colohan, two of the biggest stars in this championship match, Colohan was carried off the field with an apparent ankle injury.
Howell was able to get up and was issued a yellow card for the tackle.
Early goal for BYU ruled offsides, still 0-0
Cameron Tucker broke through the Florida State defense on a perfectly weighted through ball, but was immediately ruled offsides.
Florida State leads in shots early, 2-0, but we are still 0-0 inside the first 15 minutes
8' | Cameron Tucker's goal is called offsides
— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) December 7, 2021
BYU 0 - 0 FSU
We're on site ahead of the national championship
It's a brisk 54 degrees with a 70% chance of rain here In Santa Clara, California ahead of the 2021 NCAA women's soccer national championship. We are just 45 minutes away from official team warmups, and a cluster of fans in BYU blue have flooded into the gates here at Santa Clara University.
BYU is appearing in its first-ever national championship tonight in 27 seasons, all under the leadership of head coach Jennifer Rockwood. To get here, BYU most recently defeated Santa Clara 3-2 in penalty kicks on Friday.
As for Florida State, its recent dominance continues, as it appears in its 5th of the last 10 national championship games. Florida State shutout Rutgers 1-0 in its semifinal match to clinch its spot in the final tonight.
Though the field will be star-studded with elite players, the headlining names will be Jaelin Howell and Mikayla Colohan for Florida State and BYU, respectively.
The matchup
BYU has the number one offense in the entire country. The Cougars average 3.5 goals per game as well as 24.5 shots per game, leading the nation in both categories. Florida State on the other hand has a goalkeeper in Cristina Roque that had only been forced to make just under 25 saves the entire season heading into the College Cup. Roque showed up big for the Seminoles against Rutgers, posting many clutch saves to sustain her team's lead. The powerful combination of BYU's explosive offense and Florida State's tight backline and elite goalkeeping will be fun to watch.
National championship schedule:
No. 4 BYU vs. No. 1 Florida State | Monday, Dec. 6 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Click or tap here to view the full bracket.
Tonight we crown a CHAMPION! 🏆#WCollegeCup pic.twitter.com/QNaAJ2j1t5
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 6, 2021
National championship preview: Florida State vs. BYU
After topping Rutgers 1-0 on Friday, Florida State earned its spot in the national championship, a stage the Seminoles are very familiar with. Florida State won national titles in 2014 and 2018 and is currently playing in its 12th College Cup.
As for its opponent, BYU, the Cougars have made history repeatedly this season. After clinching their first-ever spot in the College Cup in program history, BYU and coach Jennifer Rockwood will get a chance to compete for a national title for the first time in 27 years.
Though the field will be star-studded with elite players, the headlining names will be Jaelin Howell and Mikayla Colohan for Florida State and BYU, respectively.
The matchup
BYU has the number one offense in the entire country. The Cougars average 3.5 goals per game as well as 24.5 shots per game, leading the nation in both categories. Florida State on the other hand has a goalkeeper in Cristina Roque that had only been forced to make just under 25 saves the entire season heading into the College Cup. Roque showed up big for the Seminoles against Rutgers, posting many clutch saves to sustain her team's lead. The powerful combination of BYU's explosive offense and Florida State's tight backline and elite goalkeeping will be fun to watch.
National championship schedule:
No. 4 BYU vs. No. 1 Florida State | Monday, Dec. 6 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Click or tap here to view the full bracket.
The national championship is set
After an exciting set of semifinal matches, our national championship is set.
National championship schedule:
No. 4 BYU vs. No. 1 Florida State | Monday, Dec. 6 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Click or tap here to view the full bracket.
Florida State shutout Rutgers 1-0 to clinch back to back appearances in the national championship. Despite a late push by Rutgers, Jaelin Howell's lone goal in this semifinal matchup was enough to clinch Florida State a spot in the national championship. Florida State goalkeeper Cristina Roque had four highlight reel saves that preserved the clean sheet for the Seminoles.
Click here to watch our interview with Florida State's Jaelin Howell after clinching the first spot in the championship.
BYU defeated Santa Clara 3-2 in penalty kicks to advance to its first-ever national championship in school history. After 110 scoreless minutes, this game was decided in a shootout. BYU went down early but came back to win it after Santa Clara's final penalty kick bounced off the post.
Click here to hear from BYU's Mikayla Colohan after the win.
For the first time in history, BYU will play for the national title
Despite missing two early penalty kicks, BYU fought back to win 3-2 in the shootout after a scoreless 110 minutes played against Santa Clara.
This will be the first time in history that BYU will appear in the national championship game.
It'll be BYU vs. Florida State for the title at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 6. The game will be on ESPNU.
The winning PK for @byusoccer_w!#WCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/JQWJRpHOqH
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 4, 2021
BYU and Santa Clara are headed to penalty kicks
With over 110 scoreless minutes played, this match will be decided in penalty kicks.
Make that double overtime!
— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) December 4, 2021
10 minutes to finish it and if not....PKs here we come!#StampedeTogether
BYU and Santa Clara headed to overtime
After 90 scoreless minutes in regulation, this game is headed to overtime.
What's at stake:
- BYU could make its first-ever appearance in a national title game
- Santa Clara has the opportunity to go back-to-back and defend its national title on home turf
The winner will face Florida State in the national championship, being played Sunday at 8 p.m. ET if Santa Clara advances, and Monday at 8 p.m. ET if BYU advances.
This potential change of date is due to BYU's rule against playing on Sundays.
BYU and Santa Clara tied 0-0 at the half
Despite incredible offensive efforts by both teams, we are scoreless at the half, tied 0-0 at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara.
Both teams combined for 17 total shots on goal, With Izzy D'Aquila from Santa Clara accounting for four of those shots, including two shots on goal
We are all tied up at the end of the first half.@SCUWomensSoccer - 0@byusoccer_w - 0#WCollegeCup pic.twitter.com/aclRqrC5bN
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 4, 2021
BYU and Santa Clara going back and forth on offense
Despite coming in unseeded, defending national champion Santa Clara earned the right to defend its national title and clinch a berth to the championship on its home turf, against WCC foe BYU.
This game is well underway with just 10 minutes left in the first half.
Santa Clara and BYU have each exchanged great looks on goal so far. BYU leads in total shots, 8-6, while Santa Clara leads in shots on goal, 4-3.
In goal, Cassidy Smith of BYU has made four saves while Kylie Foutch has made three.
Florida State defeats Rutgers 1-0, advances to the national championship
Despite a late rally by Rutgers, Jaelin Howell's lone goal in this semifinal matchup was enough to clinch Florida State a spot in the national championship. Tonight's game winning goal was just Howell's third goal of the year.
Florida State and Rutgers tied in shots 9-9, and in shots on goal, 4-4. Click here for final stats.
Florida State goalkeeper Cristina Roque also had four key saves that preserved the clean sheet for the Seminoles. Click here to view Roque's clutch saves in the match.
Florida State awaits the winner of BYU vs. Santa Clara to play for the national title.
National Championship here we come! #OneTribe pic.twitter.com/9Bs5s70yDx
— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) December 4, 2021