MAKING A STATEMENT

The Seminoles finished the 2003 regular season strong with a 11-8-1 record. That season featured signature wins over Miami, No. 12 Duke and Clemson. The team rolled through the ACC Tournament by defeating Wake Forest and No. 25 Maryland en route to a meeting with perennial foe No. 1 North Carolina in the championship game. Less than two weeks prior, FSU narrowly lost to North Carolina, 1-0. In the championship rematch, freshman defender Kelly Rowland stepped up and shocked the Tar Heels, scoring in the seventh minute of the game. Rowland added a second goal in the 28th minute to give the Seminoles a halftime lead. Though FSU fell to North Carolina, 3-2, Rowland made an inspiring statement. Over her next three seasons, she became a cornerstone of the defensive line of a strong Noles team.