FSU’s Brynjarsdottir Leads Iceland In Euros

Iceland had only five shots in the game, but Dagny Brynjarsdottir put one of those in the back of the net.

That was all her team needed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2013 UEFA Women’s Euro Championship for the first time in her country’s history.

[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’] The Florida State junior midfielder provided the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the 30th minute of play.

Brynjarsdottir split pair of Dutch defenders to connect on a header off a cross from Hallbera Gisladottir.

“It was a cross from the left, a really nice ball, and all I had to do was finish it off with my head,” said Brynjarsdottir.

“It means a lot for us to be in the quarterfinals. This team has never got to this stage before, so this is something that makes me very proud.”

The run towards a European championship would end in the quarters with a 4-0 loss to host Sweden. However, Iceland’s 1-1-1 group results and advancement in the knockout round, was quite an achievement for the Seminoles’ midfielder who helped FSU to its second sraight NCAA College Cup apperance last fall.

As a sophomore, Brynjarsdottir was the #2 scorer on the team, posting career high marks in goals (9), assists (9), points (27), shots (40), game-winning goals (5) and game-winning assists (2).

Down the stretch in the 2012 season, she had four goals and five assists in her last seven games.

Given her collegiate statistics, it was not a surprise that she would be one of her country’s most dangerous attacking players.

Brynjarsdottir is a veteran of national team play for Iceland, having competed on the U-17, U-19 and U-23 national teams. She played with the full national team at the 2010 and 2011 Algarve Cup.