Jaelin Howell’s second half goal puts Florida State soccer within a win of national title

It had been a relatively quiet scoring season for Florida State's reigning MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jaelin Howell.

But if there’s one thing Howell has been throughout her career with the Seminoles, it's clutch.

Howell did it again Friday night scoring the decisive second-half goal which lifted FSU to a 1-0 victory over Rutgers in a semifinal of the College Cup at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Howell, a senior midfielder who chose to return to FSU and bypass going pro in order to try to deliver another national title put the Seminoles (21-1-2) within one victory of that goal when she struck with 19 minutes and six seconds remaining in the second half.

Clutch goalkeeper: Sophomore goalkeeper Cristina Roque proving clutch once again for Florida State soccer

Seeking redemption: Florida State’s soccer team seeking to add to recent dominance with a third national title

Unfinished business: Gritty competitor Jaelin Howell returns to Florida State soccer with unfinished business

It was only her third goal of the season.

"We knew Rutgers was going to be a great team and we had to stay patient throughout the course of the game," Howell said.

"We were a little sloppy in the first half and more composed in the second half and we knew things would open up if we played together and stayed patient. I was excited to contribute what I could to the team. I think it's great momentum going into our next game."

The rest of the clutch work for FSU then came from sophomore goalkeeper Cristina Roque, who made three of her four saves in the final 10 minutes of the match to preserve the victory.

The Seminoles advanced to their second consecutive national championship game, third in the past four seasons and sixth overall.

FSU will face BYU in the national title match on Monday night at 8 p.m.

The Cougars (17-4-2) defeated host and defending national champion Santa Clara in penalty kicks in their semifinal on Friday night and is in search of their first national championship. BYU entered the match with an average of 3.50 goals per game, No. 1 in the nation.

Howell, who is often regarded for doing a lot of the dirty work in the midfield both offensively and defensively to power the Seminoles’ high-octane scoring attack, had seen some hard-luck outcomes on some scoring chances earlier this season.

But Howell’s goal on Friday was perfectly-timed as she knocked home a rebound after the ball bounced off a Rutgers defender off a corner kick by FSU. Howell and Emily Madril were named first team All-Americans earlier this week and Hermann Trophy semifinalists recently as well.

“Our standard is always a national championship and to keep the national championship and we set that goal and standard every year and anything short, that's not acceptable to us,” Howell said. “So I think just having that goal in mind, it's always special getting back to the national championship (game). We don't take it for granted and especially after coming up short last year.”

Rutgers (19-4-2), which was making its second College Cup appearance, came up with multiple quality chances in the closing moments.

But Roque was up to the challenge as she first made a pair of diving saves back-to-back on one sequence and moments later helped tip another chance over the net.

Roque also dove and got a hand on a close range shot by Rutgers' Amirah Ali early in the second half with the game still scoreless which proved critical.

Roque has been pivotal in FSU’s defense throughout the NCAA Tournament not allowing a goal in the run of play. The only goal allowed by the Seminoles through five tournament matches came on a penalty kick by SMU in the second round.

"There were a number of moments particularly as we went toward the end of the game where Cristina came up huge,” FSU coach Mark Krikorian said. “She made a couple of point-blank saves and showed great courage and agility and quickness and recovering the ball as well. She continued to tilt the game in our favor, had she not been as sharp all of a sudden it's a much different game.”

Florida State and Rutgers matched each other in shots (9) and shots on goal (4).

But the Scarlet Knights stifled the Seminoles throughout the first half following an early flurry of shots by FSU in the first six minutes. Beata Olsson came up with the best chance in the opening moments, but hit crossbar on a header.

"I had a great deal of respect for Rutgers before we played and even more respect for them now,” Krikorian said. “They gave us everything we could handle. We competed very favorably through the course of the game and a lot of players made big contributions."

BYU advanced to the title match as it defeated Santa Clara 3-2 in penalty kicks.

Cougars goalkeeper Cassidy Smith had a season-high seven saves. On the offensive side, BYU outshot Santa Clara 26-13, maintain possession of the ball the majority of the game.

"What a game," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood, who is in her 27th season coaching the Cougars and in her first College Cup, told byucoulgars.com.

"I am really proud of our players and our staff and everyone who was involved. Obviously, a very exciting and huge win for us. It was a fantastic game. We knew this would be a tough battle, and it was a really electric game for college soccer. We didn’t get the goal we wanted in regulation, but it came through in PKs."

FSU soccer vs. BYU

When/Where: 8 p.m., Stevens Stadium, Santa Clara, Cal.

TV: ESPNU.

Reach Andre Fernandez at afernandez@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter @FernandezAndreC.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU soccer edges Rutgers 1-0 to advance to national title game