Box Score   I  Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- The No. 11 Pilots had their chances and gave the No. 2 Seminoles all they could handle on a hot and humid Friday night, but Florida State was able to escape with a 1-0 victory over Portland in the season opener for both teams at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The only goal of the game came on a world-class strike by FSU's Berglind Thorvaldsdottir, who found the back of the net with just one second remaining in the first half.
 
After surviving Florida State's (1-0) initial offensive surge early in the first half, the Pilots (0-1) settled down and put together some quality possession. Portland earned a pair of corner kicks with about 20 minutes remaining in the first half, and first-half sub Noelle La Prevotte cracked a shot in the 35th minute that was just wide of the left post.
 
Moments later the Pilots earned another corner kick, and this time the ball ended up at the feet of Ariel Viera. The sophomore right back took a couple of touches before sending in a low, hard shot that was wide of the right post by about a foot.
 
And then just when it appeared the two sides would enter the halftime locker room scoreless, Thorvaldsdottir found the back of the net at the 44:59 mark. From about 25 yards out, Thorvaldsdottir chipped one in that was perfectly placed inside the top left corner of the frame to hand the Seminoles the 1-0 lead.
 
Portland starting goalkeeper Hanna de Haan was otherwise impressive during the first 45 minutes, making a pair of saves as the Seminoles claimed a slim 7-4 edge in shots.
 
The Seminoles again applied pressure early in the second half, and again the Pilots were up for the challenge. The Portland backline denied the Seminoles repeatedly, and Haylee DeGrood and Parkes Kendrick each cleared a ball of the goal line. Center back Alyssa Edenstrom also diverted a shot from Cheyna Williams, who had taken a touch wide to avoid the hard-charging de Haan at the edge of the six-yard box in the 52nd minute.
 
The Pilots also created a couple of opportunities in the attacking third, and both Danica Evans and La Prevotte had a shot saved by FSU goalkeeper Cassie Miller.
 
Portland's final chance came on a counter off a corner kick with just 20 seconds remaining. Kurle was on the receiving end of a ball sent over the top from the back, and the senior was able to find Evans with a pass. The sophomore midfielder then knocked the ball down before sending a difficult shot wide left from about 20 yards out as the clock wound down.
 
The Pilots next head north for another non-conference match-up with an ACC opponent on Sunday at North Carolina State. Sunday's match against the Wolfpack is slated to begin at 9 a.m. (Pacific).