No. 24 Florida State women’s soccer earned a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Wake Forest on Thursday night in Winston-Salem, N.C., improving to 6-1-3 while handing the Demon Deacons their second loss of the season.
The Seminoles returned to ACC play for the first time since their Oct. 4 matchup against Clemson, with their game against North Carolina postponed. FSU put together a strong performance on both ends of the field, creating opportunities offensively while holding Wake Forest scoreless.
Florida State
started Shaneil Buckley, Wrianna Hudson and Sam Erbach at forward, with Nyanya Touray, Joelle Jung and Peyton McGovern in the midfield. Nawreen Ahmad, Bridget Mutipula, Grace Hoytink and Tanner Strickland made up the back line, while Kate Ockene started in goal.
The Seminoles came out creating opportunities early, with Buckley making a long run down the field and finding Hudson before Wake Forest’s goalkeeper came out to stop the play.
Buckley continued to make an impact in the first half, creating another scoring opportunity at 18:14 with a shot toward the bottom-left corner.
At 21:19, Erbach took a free kick just outside the box following a yellow card against Wake Forest, but the Seminoles were unable to finish.
Ockene came up with an important save at 29:37 to keep the game scoreless. Shortly after, Lara Dantas made her first appearance of the season at 30:55.
FSU continued to pressure Wake Forest’s defense, with Hudson getting a shot off at 32:07 and Buckley finding herself near the goal at 34:26 before a defender stepped in to stop the play.
With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Ajeto nearly put the Seminoles on the board at 44:13, but her shot went just wide.
Florida State finally broke through in the final seconds of the half. Following a corner kick and a series of passes, Ashley Henderson connected on a header at 44:58, giving the Seminoles a 1-0 lead with just two seconds remaining.
Wake Forest challenged the goal, but the call stood, giving Henderson her first goal of the season.
The Seminoles carried their momentum into the second half, recording three shots by 54:46 as they looked to extend their lead.
Wake Forest had an opportunity off a corner kick at 61:13, but FSU’s defense was able to prevent the Demon Deacons from scoring.
At 78:43, Hudson nearly added another goal for the Seminoles, but Wake Forest goalkeeper Valentina Amaral came out to stop the play.
Just minutes later, Hudson found the back of the net at 82:28, extending Florida State’s lead to 2-0.
Hudson finished the night with four shots, continuing to create opportunities for the Seminoles throughout the matchup.
Florida State finished with 16 shots, including 11 on goal, while Wake Forest recorded 12 shots, with four on goal.
The Seminoles will continue ACC play Sunday, Oct. 18, traveling to Pittsburgh to take on Pitt at 1 p.m.
