FSU women's soccer beats Ohio State to advance to College Cup

Pack the bags, Florida State soccer is headed to Kansas City for the program's 15th College Cup appearance.

Forward Jordynn Dudley scored a pair of goals to help lead the NCAA women's soccer tournament third-seeded Seminoles to a Final Fourth berth with a 4-1 win over Ohio State, who finished a Cinderella tournament run that featured three top-25 upsets.

In front of a sold crowd at the Seminole Soccer Complex on Friday, Nov. 28 Dudley's brace and goals from Yuna McCormack and Wrianna Hudson were enough to get FSU back to the College Cup at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

FSU is unbeaten in the last eight games, winning six and drawing two.

It was a cagey first half, with the Seminoles generating consistent pressure on the Buckeyes' goal, but a breakthrough didn't come until the 36th minute, off the reliable foot of Dudley.

Nawreen Ahmed played a cross into the Ohio State penalty area from midfield, and Dudley stretched her foot out in front of a defender, and before Ohio State goalkeeper Molly Pritchard could get a hand to it, to roll the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.

Dudley got her second four minutes later, picking a ball up around midfield and driving by her defender before hitting a low shot that sliced by Pritchard in net and into the far right corner in the 40th minute.

Ohio State started the second half with a flurry of chances, before a long-range effort from Amanda Schlueter in the 50th minute cut the lead to one.

Any chances of more Buckeye magic were quickly quelled, however, as McCormack slotted home a one-on-one chance off a pass from Nyanya Touray in the 51st minute to give the Seminoles a two-goal advantage again. Hudson sealed the deal with a tap-in finish in the 85th minute to send the Seminoles to the Final Four.

With the win, FSU head coach Brian Pensky advances ot his third College Cup in four seasons leading the program.

The last time the program made it to the Final Four, in 2023, the Seminoles won a national title.

What's next for FSU soccer? A trip to Kansas City for the Final Four

The Seminoles will play the winner of No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 TCU in the College Cup semifinals. That game is scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 29.

When: 6 p.m. or 8:46 p.m. / Friday, Dec. 6

Where: CPKC Stadium / Kansas City, Missouri

Watch: ESPNU

Here are the NCAA Tournament dates

• First round: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 14, 15 or 16

• Second round: Thursday, Nov. 20

• Third round: Sunday, Nov. 23

• Quarterfinals: Friday or Saturday, Nov. 28 or 29

• Women's College Cup​​​​​​, Kansas City

  • Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 5

  • Finals: Monday, Dec. 8

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU women's soccer advances to College Cup with win over Ohio State