Heading into this one after Florida State’s blowout victory over the Florida Gators to start the season, you might have expected fireworks on the scoreboard, but Sunday night turned out to be more about grit than goals.
Florida State lined up against the Florida International Panthers, aiming for another strong home showing. While the Seminoles have plenty of hardware in their trophy cases, FIU arrived with credentials of its own as last season’s Conference USA champions.
From the opening whistle,
the Seminoles controlled possession and pushed forward, though sloppy touches spoiled several promising attacks. FIU was relentless defensively, pouncing on every loose ball and refusing to make things easy.
Star forward Jordynn Dudley set the tone early, winning balls and driving at defenders with confidence. Around the 10th minute, she was clipped just outside the box, setting up a dangerous FSU free kick. Taylor Suarez delivered a low ball to Heather Gilchrist. Gilchrist flicked it over her shoulder in a rainbow arc that looked destined for the highlight reel, but FIU’s keeper, Valery Restrepo, stretched to tip it away.
From there, FSU continued to win the possession game but did not find much of a rhythm. The Noles did well to stay on the front foot, but the chances they created were usually snuffed out before any shots were taken.
The Seminoles kept pressing, with Dudley and Enasia Colon forcing saves, but the stalemate held—until the 31st minute. Freshman defender Jaida McGrew lofted a long ball into the box, where Peyton Nourse crashed in after it, drawing the goalie into no man’s land. The goalie’s clearance fizzled, and the ball spilled perfectly for Wrianna Hudson, who kept her cool and curled it past the defense and into the goal.
The second half continued to play out much like the first. The vibe was chippy, and the play was choppy. The Panthers took an aggressive line to every ball, with the home crowd getting anxious for their players’ safety. No one was more frustrated than Dudley, who could frequently be found picking herself off the ground.
While the Noles continued to create chances in the final third, their threat inside the box was muted. They struggled to find room to take a clear shot as the Panthers crowded the space. While most of the game was played from their half of the pitch, FIU fought forward looking for their own chances in the box. FSU defended well and used the opportunity to stretch the field and launch an attack in the 67th minute when Peyton McGovern slotted a gorgeous through ball to Solai Washington. Washington quickly slid the ball across the frame and to the waiting feet of Peyton Nourse, who tapped it home.
The last 20 minutes of the game had FSU continuing to push for more goals, but they just wouldn’t fall. Much of the squad went home with at least one chance they will dream about having back, including Lara Dantas, who skied a sitter around the 81st minute after an expertly executed team attack.
The Noles prioritize team goals and a multitude of threats over individual brilliance. After the game, Wrianna Hudson noted, “We might not have played our best game, but we made a lot of opportunities… that’s very important because you can’t score without getting everyone into the box.”
In the end, the Seminoles did their job. The sheet was not only clean, it couldn’t have been cleaner. FIU did not register a single shot. They didn’t even allow a corner.
Coach Brian Pensky rolled out 20 field players and both freshman goalkeepers, continuing to shuffle the deck as he finds the best lineup. Afterward, he praised the effort but made it clear that the team holds itself to a higher bar.
“We had some missed opportunities, we gave some balls away… our players’ standards are high, and they’re disappointed in the performance. It’s a great learning opportunity. You always want to learn,” Pensky said postgame.
The team will build on what they learned for the next 10 days as they prepare for their first road game on Thursday, August 28, versus the reigning Big 12 Champions, the Kansas Jayhawks.
