After helping Florida State women’s soccer team win the 2025 national championship as a freshman, goalkeeper Kate Ockene continues to be a key part of the Seminoles’ defense in her second season.
With 16 new players joining the roster, FSU is still building chemistry, especially on the back line. Through her first eight starts this season, Ockene has recorded 24 saves, with eight of those against Rice on Sept. 6.
“I mean, I’m a goalkeeper for a reason. So definitely, the saves are so fun, and like,
I want to show up for my team the best I can do because they show up for me,” Ockene said after that match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ockene was also quick to recognize the work of her teammates on defense.
“Some amazing defensive things from Jaida (McGrew), Claire (Rain), Nyah (Rose), (Olivia Page), whoever was in the back,” Ockene said. “They all did amazing, and I just wanted to do my part to help out the team.”
Her eight-save performance against Rice earned her ACC Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
Following the game, Ockene discussed the adjustments that come with having 16 new players and how the defense continues to improve.
“Obviously, we have a new team, 16 new players. So again, like every single game is just time, and we keep growing from every single game,” Ockene said. “I think our defense is getting stronger and stronger every game. It’s just one of those things that takes time.”
She also compared the team’s progress to last season.
“Last season (was) the same thing. Like, I don’t think we got into our peak performance until the middle of the season. So we keep learning. We’ll do film, move on to the next game,” Ockene said.
Last season, Ockene appeared in 14 games with 11 starts, recording 30 saves while helping lead the Seminoles to the national championship.
In the championship game against Stanford, she recorded a career-high nine saves and her fifth career shutout, helping FSU secure the title. Her performance throughout the NCAA Tournament earned her the 2025 NCAA College Cup Defensive Most Outstanding Player award.
Head coach Brian Pensky has also recognized Ockene’s presence on the back line.
“Kate does a really good job in the back line,” Pensky said following FSU’s Sept. 11 matchup against NC State.
Along with adjusting to new players, the Seminoles are facing the expectations that come with being defending national champions. However, Ockene is focused on enjoying the game rather than letting the pressure affect the team.
“We want to give them our best, but we just want to have fun and play our best. But I think we kind of cancel out the pressure and just play our game,” Ockene said.
With the season continuing, Ockene believes the team’s chemistry is getting stronger.
“We’re all really close together, and on the field again, I think we’re getting better and better,” Ockene said.
Florida State, which is unbeaten in ACC play with draws against NC State and Louisville and a road win over Clemson, continues ACC play Thursday, traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face Wake Forest at 6 p.m.
The Seminoles will then travel to Pittsburgh to take on Pitt on Sunday at 1 p.m.
