A goal and a clean sheet for the Florida State Seminoles sees them advance to the third round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Heather Gilchrist got the first-half goal for the Noles while Kate Ockene earned a clean sheet.
FSU starting XI: 7 Nyanya Touray, 8 Janet Okeke, 9 Taylor Suarez, 11 Jordynn Dudley, 12 Peyton McGovern, 14 Yuna McCormack, 17 Mimi Van Zanten, 18 Kate Ockene, 19 Kameron Simmonds, 20 Heather Gilchrist, 42 Wrianna Hudson.
Lipscomb Starting XI: 1 Kaïna Cesar, 4 Lauren Bennett, 5 Tatum Ahlemeyer, 8 Chloe Iliff, 10 Bella Carapazza, 12 Lucy Hurst, 15 Maddy Rhodes, 16 Hailey Johnson, 17 London De Fini, 18 Bekah Doolittle, 21 Skylar Cole.
The match got off to a flying start with both sides sharing a pair of breakaway runs. Lipscomb was playing for the counter, sitting deep in their own half to combat the FSU attack. The Noles boast a talented roster of national team players across various age groups, but the Bisons of Lipscomb didn’t back down from the uphill challenge. Their physicality proved effective as the FSU attack was disjointed at times and had few shots on target.
With 25 minutes left in the first half, FSU started a counterattack. Springing down the left side, Mimi Van Zanten drove into the center of the pitch with defenders behind her. She played a cross to Jordynn Dudley, who put a head on it but couldn’t direct it on frame. The shot went over the bar for a goal kick.
From a corner kick with 21 minutes left in the first half, FSU broke the deadlock with a goal from Heather Gilchrist. There was some confusion in the box once the corner was played in, but the ball eventually fell to Gilchrist, who wasted no time putting the ball in the back of the net. The Noles increased the intensity after their first goal and earned several corner kicks before the end of the first half.
In the opening 10 minutes of the second half, the best look FSU had at extending its lead came from Taylor Suarez. On a pacey counterattack, Nyanya Touray led the girls in a full-on sprint. She played on Suarez with a clean through ball on the right side. She took a shot on goal, but the effort went straight to Lipscomb goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar.
With 25 minutes left, FSU was building up an attack down the left side with Mimi Van Zanten leading the charge. As she penetrated the final third, she took a shot just outside the 18-yard box. The effort went just wide of the post, but put Cesar on notice.
It was a physical match with bodies flying and no cards issued. In the end, a 1-0 result moves the Noles forward to the next round.
“I feel great about today’s win. I’m just glad we’re going to be able to continue our season,” stated Solai Washington after the match. “We just need to stay together as a team and reconnect after this game to put our best foot forward on Sunday.”
Several players from Florida State stood out with their performances today. Nyanya Touray, a freshman and native of Silver Spring, MD, showed great vision and possession during the match. Taylor Suarez and goalscorer Heather Gilchrist weren’t afraid to take chances when they arose, and Mimi Van Zanten was an absolute machine. The ladies plan on taking what they’ve learned and applying it to the next match.
“A lot about grit and battling to the last minute”, was Solai’s response when asked about what the team could take away from today’s performance. “Anything can happen in the game of soccer, so you can’t take anything for granted.”
The Noles will play their next match against Georgetown on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:00 PM/ET after they defeated West Virginia in a penalty shootout.
-Jon Jones
Photo: FSU socials