DOORMATS NO MORE

The ACC had no shortage of powerful soccer programs in the 1990s and 2000s, and Virgina was among them. The Seminoles lost their first eight matches to the Cavaliers and faced another challenge when the teams met in the ACC Tournament on November 9, 2001. The hard-fought game went scoreless in regulation and four overtime periods, forcing a shootout. Goalkeepers Ali Mims and Kerry York had combined for 18 saves, giving the Noles a fighting chance. After both teams converted two penalty kicks, D Ashlee Fontes scored the decisive kick by sending the ball into the left side of the net. The Noles celebrated with an exuberant dogpile after taking down No. 14 Virginia for the first time in program history. The victory also sent FSU to their first ACC Championship game. “This is probably the biggest result in our program’s history despite the fact that it was a tie,” said coach Patrick Baker. “We found a way to get something done that is very special. We have been perennial doormats in the conference year after year after year … We are such a young team and this makeshift group has done unbelievable and it is a credit to them.”