No. 3 Florida State kept rolling in its home opener, handling FAU 3-0 in Tallahassee to move to 3-0 on the season.
The Seminoles also showed a different look from their previous match against FIU, with head coach adjustments throughout the starting group. Sophomore Kate Ockene got the nod in goal, and the back line featured freshman Bridget Mutipula, junior Janet Okeke and fifth-year Claire Rain.
In midfield, Florida State started sophomore Nyanya Touray, senior Memphis transfer Ashley Henderson, junior Peyton McGovern and junior Xavier transfer Sam Erbach. Up front, senior Kentucky transfer Tanner Strickland, junior Tennessee transfer Anaiyah Robinson and junior Wrianna Hudson led the attack.
That opening group included three returning Seminoles who earned preseason All-ACC recognition: Okeke, Hudson and Touray.
Florida State struck first at 10:05, and it came from a sequence built on hustle at the end line. Robinson kept the ball alive, slipped it into the box, and Strickland headed it home for her second goal as a Seminole. It also gave FSU its first first-half goal of the season.
The Seminoles kept the pressure on after that. Junior Daytona State transfer Shaneil Buckley came close to making it 2-0 at 31:54, but her shot drifted just wide of the top-right corner.
Erbach was also active on set pieces, sending several corner kicks into dangerous spots, though Florida State couldn’t turn those chances into another finish before halftime. On the last real look of the opening period, Erbach arrived a step late in front of goal.
Even without a bigger cushion, Florida State dictated the first half. The Seminoles finished the opening 45 with 10 shots, five on goal, while FAU managed just one shot and none on target.
Much of that control came from the way Florida State stretched the field, working the wings and switching play to keep the Owls chasing.
The Seminoles changed four pieces to start the second half. Senior Kansas transfer Olivia Page came on for Claire Rain on defense, while senior Stanford transfer Joelle Jung, freshman Sammy Kaczmar and Buckley entered for Erbach, McGovern and Henderson.
Those changes fit into the broader picture for Florida State, which is still sorting through a roster packed with newcomers. The Seminoles have 16 new faces overall, including five freshmen and 11 transfers, and those early lineup shuffles are part of the process of building chemistry.
Florida State added its second goal at 63:18 when Henderson found freshman Ryder Ajeto, who finished for the first collegiate goal of her career.
From there, the Seminoles’ back line kept FAU under wraps. Florida State allowed just two shots and one shot on goal in the match, while FAU goalkeeper Nikki Holland finished with five saves.
By the final whistle, the numbers told the story of a team in full control. Florida State held an 18-2 edge in shots, put seven attempts on frame, and won 10 corner kicks while allowing FAU none. Only one of the Owls’ two shots found the target.
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For the Seminoles, that matters because roster decisions at defensive back are still in flux, and the pool of possible options could expand in a hurry if more players become eligible again. Florida State has been operating with uncertainty at corner, and this latest legal wrinkle adds another layer to what had already been a position group worth watching closely as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
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Desirrio Riles Could Be Exactly What FSUs Offense Needs
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For Mike Norvell, the appeal is obvious. Riles has shown he can contribute as both a receiver and a blocker, and that kind of versatility gives Florida State another layer to work with in the middle of the field and in the run game. If he settles in quickly, he could become the kind of dependable presence the Seminoles have been looking for. [Read more 🡒]