Florida State Women’s Soccer Secures Spot in National Championship

The No. 3-seeded Florida State University (FSU) women’s soccer team triumphed over No. 2-seed Texas Christian University (TCU) with a score of 1-0 in the College Cup National Semifinal held on December 1, 2023, at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. This victory propels FSU into the National Championship game for the eighth time in its history and marks the fifth time in the last eight years that the Seminoles have reached this stage.

With an impressive record of 88-19-6 in NCAA Tournament history, FSU now prepares for its fifth national title match on December 8, at 19:00 ET, against the winner of the semifinal clash between top-seeded Stanford and second-seeded Duke. The Seminoles have extended their unbeaten streak to nine games, boasting a perfect 5-0-0 record in NCAA Tournament play this season.

Florida State’s performance in this semifinal was particularly noteworthy, as they halted TCU’s 12-game unbeaten streak. The Seminoles achieved their twelfth clean sheet of the season and managed to outscore their opponents 17-3 over their last seven matches.

Sophomore forward Wrianna Hudson delivered the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, marking the latest opening goal ever scored by FSU in a non-goalless NCAA Semifinal. This was Hudson’s team-leading 14th goal of the season and her third in postseason play. Senior defender Sophia Nguyen contributed with her third assist of the season, while sophomore midfielder Peyton McGovern also earned an assist, marking her first postseason assist of her career.

In terms of statistics, Florida State outshot TCU 15-7, achieving an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. While TCU earned six corner kicks compared to FSU’s four, the Seminoles’ defense held strong, with freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene making two saves, including a crucial stop in the final moments of the match.

TCU initiated the pressure early, forcing Ockene to make a save just four minutes into the match. The Horned Frogs’ aggressive play was met with resilience from the Seminoles, who quickly responded with several offensive attempts. Notably, junior forward Jordynn Dudley led the team with six shots throughout the game, demonstrating Florida State’s offensive potency.

The first half ended with Florida State holding a 9-3 advantage in shots, and Ockene recorded one save against TCU’s three. The Seminoles continued to press in the second half, with multiple attempts on goal, but it was Hudson’s goal that ultimately secured their place in the championship.

As the match drew to a close, TCU intensified its efforts to find an equalizer, but Ockene’s exceptional play ensured a shutout victory for Florida State.

The upcoming championship match presents an opportunity for the Seminoles to further solidify their legacy in collegiate women’s soccer. For ongoing updates on Florida State soccer, fans can visit Seminoles.com and follow the team on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.