The No. 3 Florida State women’s soccer team began the 2025 season at the Seminole Soccer Complex on a muggy and rain-soaked Thursday night against bitter rival Florida. 

The game was delayed from the start as lightning was detected in the area of the Soccer Complex, forcing the start time to 8 p.m. instead of the scheduled 7 p.m. When the game started, the rain continued but the Seminoles and Gators played on. The match started with both teams playing like the weather, very sloppy. Fans of FSU soccer packed the Soccer Complex despite the rain to cheer on the home team, wearing white for the annual white-out game. 

Gator fans were sprinkled about but their cheers were drowned out by the Seminoles’ faithful who are happy that Florida State soccer is back in season. And they saw plenty to like.

Heather Gilchrist scored a pair of first-half goals as FSU routed Florida 5-0, the eighth straight victory in the series for the Seminoles.

As the first few minutes progressed in the match, the Seminoles threatened a few times in the Gator’ end of the field but were unsuccessful. Being the first game of the season, it took a while for both teams to get in the flow of things. 

Eventually, Florida State settled in and began to show talent and skill. Freshman forward Ashlyn Anderson threatened and got inside the box to deliver a pass to sophomore forward Wrianna Hudson, only to see her shot sail off to the side. Despite the miss, Gator defenders couldn’t keep the ball long and gave opportunities for the Seminoles to score on not one, but two corner kicks, both coming within two minutes of each other. 

Sophomore midfielder Lara Dantas delivered the second corner kick and the ball was deflected right back to her. Dantas then performed many of her plethora of moves to deliver an excellent pass into the box, where senior defender Heather Gilchrist delivered a strike to the back of the net in the 33rd minute to notch FSU’s first goal of the season.

The ’Noles and the Gators were then forced inside when lightning struck in the area, delaying the match once again. Fans began to leave the stadium and most did not return when the game resumed at 9:55 p.m. 

Florida State continued to attack when play resumed as Gilchrist drilled another goal in the 39th minute off a pass from senior Arizona State transfer midfielder Enasia Colon. The Seminoles would extend their lead when Hudson scored her first goal of the season in the 41st minute to give FSU a commanding 3-0 lead heading into halftime. 

Yuna McCormack, a junior transfer midfielder from Virginia, scored her first goal as a ’Nole in the 63rd minute to put the game out of reach. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Peyton Nourse scored in the 76th minute to cap off the night, giving the Seminoles a 5-0 lead.

FSU secured its 29th straight home win. Sophomore keeper Addie Todd had three saves to earn the shutout, her eighth of her career.

The season started with lightning delays, which is nothing new to people who are familiar with Tallahassee weather. The match probably wasn’t what FSU fans were hoping for weather wise, but a victory over the Gators in any sport is cause for celebration. 

The ’Noles return home on Sunday at 7 p.m. when they welcome Florida International to Tallahassee.

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