Santa Clara defeats FSU in PKs to win the program’s second women’s soccer title

Santa Clara defeats FSU in PKs to win the program’s second women’s soccer title

Santa Clara’s Izzy D’Aquila converted the championship-clinching shot as the Broncos beat Florida State 4-1 on penalty kicks to win the DI women’s soccer championship. This is the program’s second national title.

Santa Clara is the 2020-21 College Cup champion after defeating Florida State 4-1 on penalty kicks for the national title. This is the program’s second championship and first since 2001.

Julie Doyle gave the Broncos a 1-0 edge in the shootout, the first opening-round penalty attempt conceded by FSU during the tournament. The Seminoles were chasing the rest of the way as Clara Robbins and Emily Madril hit near-identical spots on the right post as Sally Menti doubled the lead for Santa Clara. Kelsey Turnbow made it 3-0 before Gabby Carle converted to keep the Seminoles in it, but it was Izzy D’Aquila who dealt the final blow with a blast into the lower right corner for the title. Watch the game-clinching kick below.

Julie Doyle (Santa Clara) – Make
Clara Robbins (Florida State) – Miss
Sally Menti (Santa Clara) – Make
Emily Madril (Florida State) – Miss
Kelsey Turnbow (Santa Clara) – Make
Gabby Carle (Florida State) – Make
Izzy D’Aquila (Santa Clara) – Make
D’Aquila’s game-winner is poetic in a sense. The Seminoles had neutralized her for 110 minutes and she finishes them off in the one place no defender can mark up. In fact, the Broncos as a whole were struggling to find their footing for much of the game’s first 80 minutes while chasing a goal. Jenna Nighswonger’s 63rd-minute goal was the first in regulation for FSU in more than two games, putting the Seminoles on the doorstep of their third title in seven years.

But a possession-heavy gameplan by FSU eventually backfired. After a potential insurance goal for FSU was ruled offside, the Seminoles committed a critical giveaway deep in their own third as a pass intended for Emily Madril was pushed too far out with the fullbacks out wide, allowing Turnbow to come in unmarked and equalize in the 84th minute, giving the Broncos a second chance that they capitalized on to win their second championship.