The Seminole soccer team headed north for its first ACC road game against the Syracuse Orange, and things got a little juicy.
FSU has dominated this matchup, now boasting an 8-0-1 series advantage over the Orange. Both squads came in unbeaten — Syracuse riding a seven-game win streak, while the Noles had won every game except for their 1-1 draw at Kansas.
The starting lineup held some surprises, signaling that head coach Brian Pensky was ready to give his talented freshmen a chance to shine. Starting
keeper Addie Todd got the day off, with newcomers Evan O’Steen and Kate Ockene sharing time in net. On the back line, Jaida McGrew stepped in for veteran Mimi Van Zanten, who exited the last match after a knock. Pensky stuck with a three-back setup, showing plenty of faith in both his defense and his young keepers.
From kickoff, the Seminoles dictated play, moving the ball with pace and precision. The offense had its first big opportunity of the game in the 5th minute when Taylor Suarez carried the ball upfield, bypassing the Orange midfield before slipping it wide to Jordynn Dudley. Dudley maneuvered to the end line and pushed the ball back into the 6-yard box as Yuna McCormack crashed in. The Syracuse defense beat her to the ball with only microseconds to spare, and successfully cleared.
FSU kept the pressure on in the 15th minute when Sophia Nguyen worked her way into space on the right wing and whipped a cross into the box. It fell to Wrianna Hudson, who was waiting right in front of the goal. Hudson opted to take 2 touches but couldn’t steer the ball past the veteran Syracuse goalkeeper, Shea Vanderbosch.
The Seminoles dominated possession through the first half but struggled to crack Syracuse’s deep-lying defense, which turned the penalty box into a fortress. Most of FSU’s looks came from distance, including a promising 25th-minute strike from Marianyela Jiménez that floated just high over the bar.
The Syracuse midfield scraped together some possession by creating a few choice turnovers and pouncing on any mistake made by the Noles. Their best moment came in the 33rd minute when Ashley Rauch intercepted a pass intended for Lara Dantas and raced forward. Dantas fouled her to slow the attack, setting up a free kick that led to a corner. Off the delivery, Mia Klammer rose for a header that forced Evan O’Steen into her first official save as a Seminole.
The Noles’ work in possession finally paid off in the 43rd minute when Solai Washington found space in front of the goal. The lead-up to the goal was quick. Heather Gilchrist slipped a ball to Jiménez, who fed Peyton Nourse on the right edge of the box. With a clever flick, Nourse found Washington streaking down the middle. Washington’s potent strike stayed low and true, finally cracking the stalemate.
The second half opened with freshman keeper Kate Ockene stepping between the posts, while the Seminoles kept their foot on the gas. FSU stayed camped in Syracuse territory, and the Orange defense opened up in the 53rd minute. Enasia Colon delivered a pinpoint cross that found freshman Mya Brandon, who rose for a smashing header to send the ball past the keeper before she could even react, doubling the lead.
The Seminoles’ purposeful possession and ball movement continued to pay off. It should come as no surprise that the next name on the scoresheet was rising star Wrianna Hudson. In the 61st minute, Jordynn Dudley switched the attack with a long diagonal ball to Colon, who drove to the end line and fired a cross towards goal. Hudson was waiting in the right spot to tap it in, stretching her scoring streak to five goals in her last four matches.
As the game wore on, the Noles wore Syracuse out. FSU continued to control the game even as the starting lineup was rested and players were shuffled into new positions. Twenty-two players saw action, yet the rhythm and control never faltered.
The Noles tallied one more goal for the day, much to the disappointment of the hardworking Orange defense. In the 65th minute, Solai Washington slipped the ball across the face of goal toward Peyton Nourse. The Syracuse defense scrambled, but the clearance attempt ricocheted off a defender and into the net for an own goal — salt in the wound, but ultimately the credit goes to the FSU offense for their relentless pressure.
FSU kept a clean sheet, limiting Syracuse to just four shots all night. The performance underscored the Nole’s ability to adjust, stay patient, and ultimately wear down a defense. Equally important, it gave valuable minutes to newcomers like Nyanya Touray and Enasia Colon. Touray, while unpolished at times, flashed promise with her bold footwork and creative flair. Colon impressed with pinpoint crosses and sharp corners, evidence that she’s quickly pushing for a starting role.
This game reinforced what makes the Noles dangerous: an offense deep with scoring options and a defense that bends without breaking. And now, with confidence high, they turn their focus to their toughest test yet — an away trip to face No. 19 North Carolina.
The matchup between the last 2 national champs kicks off on Wednesday, September 17, in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. ET in a nationally-televised contest on ACC Network.
