Seminole Soccer Advances to National Championship Game With 1-0 Win Over TCU
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 3-seeded Florida State soccer team defeated No. 2-seeded TCU by a final score of 1-0 in the National Semifinal on Friday, Dec. 5 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Florida State improves to 88-19-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 7-7-1 in the National Semifinal. They will advance to the National Championship for the eighth time in program history and the fifth time in the last eight years.
The Seminoles (15-2-4) extend their unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games with a perfect 5-0-0 mark in NCAA play. The victory snaps the Horned Frogs’ (18-3-3) 12-game unbeaten streak and registers as the Seminoles’ 12th clean sheet of the season and third of the postseason.
Sophomore forward Wrianna Hudson netted the game-winner in the 76th minute. She leads the team with 14 goals on the season, four of which are game-winners. Senior defender Sophia Nguyen recorded her third assist of the season and second of the postseason, with the last coming a match ago against Ohio State. Sophomore midfielder Peyton McGovern earned her second assist of the year.
Florida State outshot TCU 15-7 with a prominent 8-2 edge in shots on goal. The Horned Frogs took six corner kicks to the Seminoles’ four. Freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene managed two saves while TCU keeper recorded seven. Junior forward Jordynn Dudley led the attack with a team-high six shots.
The Horned Frogs pressured early, working a save out of Ockene hardly four minutes into play. A long shot from outside of the 18-yard box was easily blocked and scooped by the freshman for her first of two total saves throughout the match.
The Seminoles forced two saves out of the Horned Frog keeper within the first 10 minutes of play. Hudson had the first chance of the night in the seventh minute after creating free space through a contested pass into the goal box. Her right-footed shot, however, was intercepted by the sliding keeper. On the following corner kick, a header from Dudley found the foot of senior defender Kameron Simmonds, whose mid-air attempt was scooped up feet away from the goal line.
A close shot by freshman forward Jaida McGrew was narrowly tapped over the crossbar by the TCU keeper in the 33rd minute. A pass from Nguyen at the top of the penalty area to the freshman set her up in perfect position, but the shot directed to the top left corner tipped the gloves of the keeper and missed high.
Florida State outshot TCU 9-3 in the first half with a 3-1 edge on goal. FSU took four corner kicks while TCU trailed with three. Ockene recorded one save to the Horned Frog keeper’s three. Dudley led the offensive push with five of the nine total first half shots while three different Seminoles posted a shot on frame.
Three more saves would be worked out of the TCU keeper across an eight-minute span. Junior midfielder Yuna McCormack took the first shot of the second half for the Seminoles in the 61st minute. A centering pass near midfield by Simmonds found McCormack, who dribbled to the top of the penalty box and fired at the bottom right corner, forcing a diving save from TCU. Five minutes later, sophomore forward Taylor Suarez would receive a cross to the right side, but her running shot would be intercepted. Junior defender Mimi Van Zanten’s attempt from the left edge of the penalty box would curl into the far post but right into the hands of the keeper.
Hudson would finally break the ice at 72:47, netting the first and only goal for the Seminoles. McGovern sent a pass to Nguyen on the right sideline, who fired a long pass into the goal box. Hudson met it perfectly, and a timely left-footed tap beat the keeper to the spot for her third postseason goal. Nguyen recorded her second postseason assist in consecutive games while McGovern earned her first postseason assist of her Seminole career.
McCormack would pressure nearly a minute later at 73:43. She worked past her defender on the left edge of the 18-yard box before targeting the right post, but a dive from the Horned Frogs’ keeper knocked the attempt out to the far right.
The Horned Frogs, desperate to tie the contest, battled down to the final minute of play. With three seconds remaining, an incredible block by Ockene in the goal box kept the Horned Frogs off the board entirely and secured the 1-0 shutout win for Florida State.
In a testy second half, FSU outshot TCU 6-4 with a 5-1 advantage on frame. TCU managed three corner kicks to the Seminoles’ zero. Ockene made one save to her TCU’s counterparts four.
Florida State advances to the National Championship, which will be played on Monday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at CPKC Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU. The Seminoles will face the winner of No. 1-seeded Stanford and No. 2-seeded Duke.
For more information on Florida State soccer, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUSoccer) & Instagram (@NoleSoccer).
Florida State improves to 88-19-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 7-7-1 in the National Semifinal. They will advance to the National Championship for the eighth time in program history and the fifth time in the last eight years.
The Seminoles (15-2-4) extend their unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games with a perfect 5-0-0 mark in NCAA play. The victory snaps the Horned Frogs’ (18-3-3) 12-game unbeaten streak and registers as the Seminoles’ 12th clean sheet of the season and third of the postseason.
Sophomore forward Wrianna Hudson netted the game-winner in the 76th minute. She leads the team with 14 goals on the season, four of which are game-winners. Senior defender Sophia Nguyen recorded her third assist of the season and second of the postseason, with the last coming a match ago against Ohio State. Sophomore midfielder Peyton McGovern earned her second assist of the year.
Florida State outshot TCU 15-7 with a prominent 8-2 edge in shots on goal. The Horned Frogs took six corner kicks to the Seminoles’ four. Freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene managed two saves while TCU keeper recorded seven. Junior forward Jordynn Dudley led the attack with a team-high six shots.
The Horned Frogs pressured early, working a save out of Ockene hardly four minutes into play. A long shot from outside of the 18-yard box was easily blocked and scooped by the freshman for her first of two total saves throughout the match.
The Seminoles forced two saves out of the Horned Frog keeper within the first 10 minutes of play. Hudson had the first chance of the night in the seventh minute after creating free space through a contested pass into the goal box. Her right-footed shot, however, was intercepted by the sliding keeper. On the following corner kick, a header from Dudley found the foot of senior defender Kameron Simmonds, whose mid-air attempt was scooped up feet away from the goal line.
A close shot by freshman forward Jaida McGrew was narrowly tapped over the crossbar by the TCU keeper in the 33rd minute. A pass from Nguyen at the top of the penalty area to the freshman set her up in perfect position, but the shot directed to the top left corner tipped the gloves of the keeper and missed high.
Florida State outshot TCU 9-3 in the first half with a 3-1 edge on goal. FSU took four corner kicks while TCU trailed with three. Ockene recorded one save to the Horned Frog keeper’s three. Dudley led the offensive push with five of the nine total first half shots while three different Seminoles posted a shot on frame.
Three more saves would be worked out of the TCU keeper across an eight-minute span. Junior midfielder Yuna McCormack took the first shot of the second half for the Seminoles in the 61st minute. A centering pass near midfield by Simmonds found McCormack, who dribbled to the top of the penalty box and fired at the bottom right corner, forcing a diving save from TCU. Five minutes later, sophomore forward Taylor Suarez would receive a cross to the right side, but her running shot would be intercepted. Junior defender Mimi Van Zanten’s attempt from the left edge of the penalty box would curl into the far post but right into the hands of the keeper.
Hudson would finally break the ice at 72:47, netting the first and only goal for the Seminoles. McGovern sent a pass to Nguyen on the right sideline, who fired a long pass into the goal box. Hudson met it perfectly, and a timely left-footed tap beat the keeper to the spot for her third postseason goal. Nguyen recorded her second postseason assist in consecutive games while McGovern earned her first postseason assist of her Seminole career.
McCormack would pressure nearly a minute later at 73:43. She worked past her defender on the left edge of the 18-yard box before targeting the right post, but a dive from the Horned Frogs’ keeper knocked the attempt out to the far right.
The Horned Frogs, desperate to tie the contest, battled down to the final minute of play. With three seconds remaining, an incredible block by Ockene in the goal box kept the Horned Frogs off the board entirely and secured the 1-0 shutout win for Florida State.
In a testy second half, FSU outshot TCU 6-4 with a 5-1 advantage on frame. TCU managed three corner kicks to the Seminoles’ zero. Ockene made one save to her TCU’s counterparts four.
Florida State advances to the National Championship, which will be played on Monday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at CPKC Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU. The Seminoles will face the winner of No. 1-seeded Stanford and No. 2-seeded Duke.
For more information on Florida State soccer, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUSoccer) & Instagram (@NoleSoccer).
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