KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the second time in three seasons, the Florida State Seminoles are national champions. Sophomore Wrianna Hudson scored the championship game’s lone goal on Dec. 8, her second of the weekend at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, to lift Florida State to a 1-0 victory against Stanford.
Continue reading with a subscription to The IX
Get unlimited access to our exclusive coverage of a varitety of women’s sports, including our premium newsletter by subscribing today!
Already a member?
Login
“I’m just so elated for our team,” coach Brian Pensky said after the match. “The toughness and resilience that grew within this group over the course of the fall. Their elation says it all.”
Hudson, who was recognized as the Offensive Most Outstanding Player, entered the game as Florida State’s leading scorer with 14 goals and 38 shots on goal. She had one and one in the match.
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast & Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis.
Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts and make sure to subscribe!
Both sides were scoreless until the 87th minute when Hudson found the back of the net. The possession started with a corner kick and a scramble for the ball. After a failed clearance, Florida State found itself with one more chance as the clock wound down. Defender Janet Okeke started the sequence with a pass to midfielder Taylor Suarez, whose cross was originally blocked, but ultimately landed right at Hudson’s feet. Okene and Suarez each earned credit for an assist.
“I saw Taylor fighting to get the ball out wide and I just have so much trust in her because she’s a phenomenal playmaker, so I thought I had to be somewhere where I could at least try,” Hudson said. “She did get the ball across and I got the goal, thankfully for her.”
Freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene, who turned 19 the day before the championship match, recorded nine saves to secure the shutout. It was the program’s 13th clean sheet of the season. She was honored as the Defensive Most Outstanding Player for the College Cup.
“Kate is in the goal because she is a phenomenal shot-stopper,” coach Pensky said, shaking off any concerns about starting his young keeper in the high-stakes match.
“At the end of the day, a goalkeeper’s job is to keep the ball out of the back of the net,” he continued, “and Kate does that really well.”
With the victory, the Seminoles finished the season 16-2-4. Florida State outscored opponents 18-3 in their last eight matches on the way to the title. It was the program’s fifth national title and second under Pensky.
Suarez, senior defender Heather Gilchrist, and sophomore midfielder Peyton McGovern also landed on the College Cup All-Tournament Team.
The IX Basketball, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom
The IX Basketball: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX Sports and powered by The Next. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.
Readers of The IX Sports now save 50% on their subscription to The IX Basketball, powered by The Next.
