Brian Pensky is glad to keep the tradition that Mark Krikorian set for Florida State soccer alive.
The legendary head coach made a habit of hosting NCAA tournament games at the Seminole Soccer Complex, and Pensky is doing the same. The third-seeded Seminoles needed a little luck to host, with Ohio State upsetting top-seeded Notre Dame, but Pensky is grateful for one final game in front of home fans.
FSU will face Ohio State, which has gone on a Cinderella run to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament. The game is set for Friday, Nov. 28, with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
“The benchmark that Mark Krikorian created was Thanksgiving at his house on Thursday, and a Friday home Elite Eight game. We were able to do that in my first two years here, and the way last year played out was gut-wrenching, and we had to chew on that for a year,” Pensky said.
“Obviously, we thought if we were fortunate enough to be at this stage, we’d be going to South Bend this week. To be back home in sunny, beautiful, warmer Florida, then playing in front of our amazing fans, it’s literally priceless.”
Pensky’s Seminoles are on a dominant run through the opening rounds of the tournament, beating Samford, Lipscomb, and Georgetown by a combined 8-1. The lone goal conceded came in the 3-1 win over the Hoyas in the Sweet 16.
Facing an Ohio State program that has taken out three top 25 programs, No. 19 Georgia, No. 2 Notre Dame, and No. 23 Baylor, with a pair of games going to double overtime. The Buckeyes have conceded one goal in the tournament, and only 12 the entire season, making them another strong defensive team for the Seminoles to try and break down.
“They’re very organized, they have great size, very well coached,” Pesnky said. “A lot of older players, a lot of All-Big 10 players. It’s literally and figuratively going to be a tall challenge for us.”
The winner advances to the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU soccer faces Ohio State with berth to Final Four on the line
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
