For the seventh time in eight years, Florida State soccer is preparing for a third-round NCAA Women’s Soccer tournament game.
The No. 3 Seminoles face No. 2 Georgetown in a Sweet 16 showdown on Sunday, Nov. 23, at Shaw Field in Washington, D.C. The Hoyas are coming off a 4-3 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 tie in regulation against West Virginia.
“If we can make Sunday fast, I think it suits us given who we are,” FSU head coach Brian Pensky said in a Zoom on Friday, Nov 21. “Then, given the fact that they played 110 minutes last night.”
With top-seeded Notre Dame upset by Ohio State in the second round, the winner between FSU and Georgetown will host the Elite Eight matchup as the highest remaining seed.
FSU beat Lipscomb 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA tournament, a second consecutive shutout for the team after their 4-0 opening round win over Samford.
Despite the Seminoles’ attacking firepower, which features forwards Jordynn Dudley (9 goals), Taylor Suarez (5 goals) and Wrianna Hudson (12 goals), defender Heather Gilchrist scored the lone goal for the team in the second round, a career-high fourth goal this season.
Facing a Hoyas team that has allowed just three goals in the last 12 games, the Seminoles are going to need to convert chances into goals to force Georgetown to open up.
The Seminoles are yet to allow a goal in the NCAA tournament, and freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene has been a big part of that. While she only had to one save agaisnt Lipscomb, she had two big moments that kept FSU ahead. Her save in the final seconds of the first half and punched ball on a Bison corner with seconds left in the game kept the clean sheet for FSU.
“That’s the hardest thing to do as a goalkeeper, when you’re not having to make save after save and then all of the sudden you’re called upon,” Pensky said. “Obviously proud of her. In some ways, the coolest part about it is in each of those moments, she’s kind of getting on her teammates a little bit. And that kind of shows a little bit of gumption, maturity, and confidence. That’s what you need out of a goalkeeper.”
What’s next for FSU soccer? A trip to the Sweet 16
Gametime has been updated to noon
Here are the NCAA Tournament dates
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 preps for NCAA tournament Sweet 16 showdown with Georgetown
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
