FSU soccer advances to College Cup with win over Ohio State

Facing off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the fourth round of the NCAA Tournament, Florida State secured a 4-1 victory to send Seminoles to the final four and showing the team is gaining momentum at the perfect time.

It was a matchup few expected. Both teams had knocked out higher-seeded opponents to advance, with the Buckeyes’ path highlighted by a dramatic overtime upset of top-seeded Notre Dame.

That surprise result gave the Noles an unexpected opportunity to host another round, this time in front of a raucous, sold-out home crowd.

The game opened with the Noles bringing their electric attack against a stout and seasoned Buckeye defense. From the start, FSU controlled possession and dictated the tempo, whipping the ball around the pitch with quick passing and spending most of their time pushing for goals.

The Noles found their first major chance in the 7th minute when Kameron Simmonds earned a free kick in OSU territory. Taylor Suarez delivered the ball into the box, where it was initially cleared by a Buckeye defender. Janet Okeke kept the play alive with a header, and Wrianna Hudson followed with a strong header on goal, which was denied by a brilliant punch from OSU keeper Molly Pritchard.

Pritchard was back in action two minutes later when Nyanya Touray pounced on a loose ball after an FSU corner and fired a shot toward the net. The ball took a deflection and sped toward goal, but Pritchard made a full-extension diving save at the last moment to keep the game scoreless.

After weathering the early onslaught, Ohio State finally held some possession and pushed into FSU’s defensive end in the 17th minute. They forced a series of nervy clearances but couldn’t capitalize on the chaos.

A few minutes later, FSU returned the pressure. The sequence began when Mimi Van Zanten absorbed a heavy challenge just outside the penalty area. She limped off the field and did not return. Suarez took the resulting free kick and dropped a gorgeous ball near Jordynn Dudley, whose touch was deflected by Pritchard. Jaida McGrew followed with the next shot, also stopped by Pritchard. The rebound stayed in play long enough for Hudson to get another effort on target, which the Buckeye back line blocked. Touray had one more go, forcing yet another diving save from Pritchard.

The relentless FSU attack eventually broke through. In the 35th minute, Nawreen Ahmad intercepted a pass near midfield and sparked a rapid combination down the flank. Then she sent a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Dudley, who fearlessly challenged a defender and the goalkeeper for the ball and managed to get a foot to it before being collided with. The touch wasn’t clean, but it had just enough pace to sneak into the side netting.

The Noles didn’t waste any time chasing a second. In the 39th minute, Sophia Nguyen launched a slicing ball from FSU’s defensive half that found Dudley up front. She outmaneuvered the OSU back line and drilled a left-footed shot across the face of goal and into the far netting—a classic Dudley finish that gave FSU breathing room heading into halftime.

The stats told the story: FSU held nine shots on goal to Ohio State’s one. But with a two-goal deficit, the Buckeyes had no choice but to push quickly in the 2nd half. They surged forward and got a shot off just 45 seconds into the second half. Although FSU handled that chance, the Buckeyes stunned them moments later. In the 49th minute, Amanda Schlueter received the ball 10 yards outside the penalty area and wasn’t closed down quickly enough. She fired a low, powerful shot that split the backline and found the net. Keeper Kate Ockene nearly made the save but couldn’t get there in time.

With the lead halved and momentum shifting, the Noles needed a response. They got it less than a minute later. Dudley drove down the flank and found Touray at the top of the box. Touray threaded a perfectly timed ball into the run of Yuna McCormack, who slipped beyond the defense and tucked a composed finish into the net to restore a two-goal cushion.

With the 3–1 lead, FSU locked down control of the game. OSU continued pushing for chances, but Ockene remained mostly untested. Their best look came in the 77th minute off their first corner of the night. Micayla Decker’s shot was blocked by Okeke, and after the ball pinballed dangerously around the box, the Noles managed a messy but effective clearance.

To see out the game, FSU continued to dominate possession and pursue another goal. They found it in the 84th minute when Heather Gilchrist delivered an enticing ball into the box for Dudley. As Dudley moved toward it, she was brought down by an OSU defender. Before the referee could make a call, Suarez kept the ball alive and sent it back toward goal. Hudson met it with a clean one-touch finish to seal the 4–1 victory.

To their credit, Ohio State never gave up on the game and finished their amazing season with their heads held high.

The win sends the Noles to the College Cup and caps another complete team performance. This group entered the season with plenty of talent and the stinging memory of last year’s postseason disappointment. Momentum came slowly, and several games throughout the year didn’t quite match the program’s high standard. But those challenges forged a mentally and physically tough squad.

Team chemistry has grown steadily. The Noles are now operating like a well-oiled machine, with crisp passing, disciplined defending, and dynamic creativity in the attack. Their freshman contributors continue to grow, with Ahmad and Touray delivering key, high-quality assists, and McGrew and Okene handing in their own solid performances.

It was a true team win, with every player contributing on both ends of the field. Attention now turns to the College Cup. FSU will face the winner of Vanderbilt vs. TCU, while Stanford and Duke have also booked their spots. In earning this opportunity, the lingering ghosts of last season have finally been vanquished.

“We always say that the run for the national championship starts in the spring. And I think it even started after that Vanderbilt game [last season],” senior Heather Gilchrist said after the game. “We’ve been really together this season, and facing a little adversity earlier on has prepared us… We’re on a mission.”

That mission continues next week in Kansas City, with the semifinal set for Dec. 5 and the final on Dec. 8.