No. 22 Florida State finally got into the ACC win column Sunday afternoon, grinding out a 2-1 road victory over No. 23 Clemson.
The Seminoles improved to 5-1-3, while Clemson slipped to 6-3-3 after the loss.
Florida State’s lineup kept shifting as players continued to move in and out of availability, and the Seminoles again had a different look from the opening whistle. Kate Ockene got the start in goal, with Bridget Mutipula, Nyanya Touray, Tanner Strickland, Peyton McGovern, Grace Hoytink, Joelle Jung, Nawreen Ahmad, Sam Erbach, Wrianna Hudson and Ryder Ajeto also in the first XI.
The start was sharp, and it didn’t take long for FSU to cash in. Just 6:39 into the match, Touray set up Erbach, who finished for her fourth goal of the season to put the Seminoles ahead 1-0.
Florida State kept the pressure on and doubled the lead almost immediately. At the 9:22 mark, Jung found Hudson, and Hudson buried the chance to make it 2-0.
Clemson answered in the 20th minute to trim the margin to 2-1, but Florida State still generated chances to stretch the lead back out. Erbach tested Clemson goalkeeper Nona Reason again in the 26th minute, and Reason made the stop.
Late in the first half, Nyah Rose had another look for the Seminoles, but the shot was blocked at the 40:28 mark.
FSU took that 2-1 lead into halftime and kept searching for an insurance goal after the break. Shaneil Buckley put one on frame at 51:17, but Reason was there again.
That was as close as either side would get the rest of the way. Florida State held on for the one-goal win on the road.
The stat line stayed tight. Florida State finished with nine shots, five of them on target, while Clemson had 10 shots and four on goal. Ockene made three saves, Clemson’s goalkeeper also finished with three, and the Seminoles held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Florida State now heads back to Tallahassee for a matchup with No. 1 North Carolina on Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m.
In Other News...
FSU Running Back Depth Just Took Another Hit At The Worst Time
Florida States backfield was already thinned out by injuries when another unexpected change landed on the roster update. Gemari Sands has been removed from the team and is no longer part of the Seminoles, a development that comes as the program is trying to sort through a running back group that has already taken damage.
Samuel Singleton Jr. is expected to miss a significant portion of the season because of a lower-body injury, and the Seminoles have already adjusted by moving sophomore tight end Gavin Markey over to running back on the updated roster. It leaves Florida State scrambling for answers at a position where depth was supposed to be a strength, and the timing could hardly be worse with the season moving along. [Read more 🡒]
Former FSU Kicker Could Help Miami Reach A Goal Fans Hate
Jake Weinbergs move from Florida State to Miami has turned into one of those small roster twists that can linger on both sides of the rivalry. The former Seminoles kicker has settled in well with the Hurricanes, hitting 5 of 6 field goals and making every extra point so far as Miami has surged through conference play with an unbeaten ACC mark and a roster that is humming on both sides of the ball.
For Florida State, the timing makes the subplot even more noticeable. The Seminoles moved on to Gabe Panikowski, and he has been perfect on field goals and extra points this season, so the position itself has not become a problem in Tallahassee. Still, Weinbergs success in Miami adds a little extra edge to a rivalry outcome Seminoles fans would rather not follow too closely if the Hurricanes keep pushing toward their goal. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Added A Recruit At A Crucial Time
Florida State added another piece to its future secondary on Tuesday, landing a commitment from three-star defensive back Man Robinson for its 2028 recruiting class. Robinson picked the Seminoles over several other programs after being on the radar in Tallahassee since December 2024, giving the staff another early win in a class that is starting to take shape.
Robinsons pledge brings Florida States 2028 class to four verbal commitments and keeps it near the top of the national board at No. 5. For a program trying to build momentum on the trail well before those prospects ever arrive on campus, adding a defensive back with this much attention this early is the kind of move that can matter later. [Read more 🡒]