The No. 5 Florida State women’s soccer team continued to dominate the ACC as they closed out their regular season with a 4-1 win over Virginia Tech. On Thursday, Oct. 27, the Seminoles took on the Hokies at the Seminole Soccer Complex in front of a sea of Garnet and Gold fans.
FSU was dangerous from the start. Midfielder Heather Payne possessed the ball within the first minute of the game. After her drive to the right flank, forward Jody Brown attempted to take the ball but was grabbed and interrupted by the whistle.
Senior Jenna Nighswonger took the free kick for the Seminoles and sent the ball into the mixed crowd of jerseys just for Virginia Tech’s keeper to get a piece of it. However, she failed to grab the ball and instead rebounded it for forward LeiLanni Nesbeth to redirect it and send the ball flying into the net. Only 61 seconds after the first whistle, the ‘Noles had their first score of the game and the second-fastest goal of the season.
The energy in the stands was exhilarating as the Seminoles continued the momentum with another goal just two minutes later. After another foul from the Hokies, Nighswonger took the free kick and kicked the ball to Payne in the right corner. Payne then crossed the ball to the back post, where midfielder Onyi Echegini was ready with a vertical advantage. She delivered the ball over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net, scoring the second goal of the game in under five minutes.
With the Seminoles taking an early lead, Virginia Tech fought to take possession. The Hokies had their chance at the goal but were not able to get past Seminole keeper Cristina Roque.
Brown, Echegini, Nighswonger and Beata Olsson all attempted to score for FSU but were unable to get past the Hokies keeper for the remainder of the half. Neither team scored in the next 40 minutes and the first half ended with the scoreboard at 2-0.
Virginia Tech tried to score in the 63rd minute of the game. Payne worked to defend the Seminoles but the Hokies took a shot 19 yards out. Roque made an incredible dive to save the ball and stop the Hokies from making it on the scoreboard.
After 70 minutes and the score still 2-0, the Seminoles once again battled at the net. Senior Clara Robbins sent a pass to Echegini who kicked a left footed shot into the back of the net, scoring her second goal of the night and advancing the score 3-0.
Not backing down without a fight, Virginia Tech rallied with a shot of their own in the last eight minutes of the game. Coming from the right side, the ball soared into the back of the net, making it nearly impossible for Roque to save. With the score now 3-1, the Seminoles weren’t ready for the game to be over yet.
In the 90th minute of the game, Olsson took the ball but was stopped by the whistle after being run into by the Hokie keeper. In the final minute of the night, Robbins took the penalty kick and scored the fourth goal for the Seminoles of the night. The game ended with a score of 4-1 and ranked the ’Noles as the 2022 ACC Regular Season Champions.
FSU led the night in shots with 14-10 and in possession with 59%-41%. Florida State soccer also celebrated senior night honoring their three seniors: Jenna Nighswonger, Clara Robbins and Heather Payne.
From Huntington Beach, California., Nighswonger is finishing her fourth season in a Seminoles jersey. She has played in 79 games, scored 17 career goals, and assisted on 29 goals. She has recently been named College Soccer News National Player of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week.
From Ireland, Payne is finishing up her fourth season as a defensive player where she played in 53 games, scored four goals and assisted on five. Playing her seventh season at FSU, Robbins has played in 104 games and will break the school record of most played games in the first match of the ACC tournament.
From Stafford, Virginia., Robbins has been part of four ACC Championships and two National Championships in her time as a Seminole.
On Nov. 3, Florida State will begin playing in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Cary, North Carolina.