The No. 18 Florida State (4-1-2) soccer team welcomed North Carolina State to the Seminole Soccer Complex on Friday to open ACC play. The weather in Tallahassee was a rainy one but cleared up just before the match began.
FSU and NC State fought hard in a physical battle with both teams drawing a combined 18 fouls and three yellow cards. The match ended in a 2-2 tie between two teams that will be in the thick of the ACC championship.
“Obviously at home you want to get three points,” FSU coach Brian Pensky said. “Certainly going down a goal 90 seconds in isn't how you dial it up, but I’m really proud of the group to come back from a goal two times. Defensively, we’re still giving away. They gave away eight corners tonight. I think we’ve got to continue to improve our on-field organization and communication.”
The match started out with a bang, but it wasn’t in the Seminoles’ favor as NC State forward Erica Roberts bent a 20-yard screamer into the back of the net to give the Wolfpack the early 1-0 lead. The pressure and physicality of the Wolfpack was stellar to begin the game, as they possessed the ball with great efficacy and precision passing.
The Seminoles had their chances a few times to find the goal but were unsuccessful. Florida State began to turn up the pressure after a slow start and forward Wrianna Hudson headed in a goal in the 22nd minute to tie the game. Shanell Buckley was credited with the assist and the talented transfer from Daytona State College was busy all night showcasing her speed and quickness.
FSU’s field was a little soggy to start the game and at some moments, it seemed like the players were slipping and sliding.
“It was fast and was slick and I think we liked that,” Pensky said. “It was a little soft and I think that’s probably accumulated the last couple of days but it was fine. Irrelevant in terms of how it impacted the game.”
Going into halftime, the score was tied but was still very much anybody's game.
N.C. State would jump out on top in the 57th minute when forward Daisy Duda bent a beautiful ball into the back of the net and past ACC Goalkeeper of the Week Kate Ockene. Kate was slow to get up after and appeared injured, but she stayed in the game. Ockene was credited with two saves.
The Wolfpack were up 2-1 in front of a very quiet Seminole Soccer Complex, but not for very long. N.C. State tried to slow down the pace and tried to play keep away but eventually they could not sustain the strategy due to the Seminoles’ pressure.
Buckley was able to wrestle the ball away from a defender just outside the scoring box and hit it in the top corner of the net in the 64th minute to tie the game. Buckley has not been on campus long, but her speed and quick feet will be a factor this year.
“I feel like I’m getting comfortable,” Buckley said. “I’m still a little bit nervous being around the ACC so I just gotta take it step by step.”
Coming up
The Seminoles will have 15 days off before they travel to Louisville for the first ACC road match of the season on Sept. 27 at noon.
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