Seminole Sunday Sauce — Nov. 16, 2025: FSU Soccer Blanks Samford to Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament
For the 21st straight season, Florida State soccer is advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Ranked sixth nationally and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Seminoles took care of business on Friday night with a 4-0 win over Samford in the opening round.
Yuna McCormack put the Seminoles ahead for good with a goal in the 11th minute. That would be the lone goal of the first half, but FSU seized control in the second.
After assisting on the first goal, Taylor Suarez found the net in the 49th minute. Suarez and Nyanya Touray would assist on Wrianna Hudson’s 61st-minute goal. With the assist from Marianyela Jimenez, Lara Dantas put the exclamation point on the shutout victory with her first goal of the season in the 79th minute.
FSU dominated with 22 shots to just four for the Bulldogs. Suarez led the Seminoles with four shots, including three of frame. FSU goalkeeper Kate Ockene saved the lone Samford shot on goal for the night.
The win served as the 250th in the career of FSU head coach Brian Pensky. The Seminoles will move on to the second round where they’ll take on Lipscomb in Washington D.C. on Thursday night.
FOOTBALL
Record: 5-5 (2-5 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-0), beat Virginia Tech on Saturday, 34-14
Upcoming: at NC State (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 14 nationally, second in ACC* (25 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU will have two chances to win one road game to become bowl-eligible.
Soccer
Record: 11-2-4
Ranking: No. 6 United Soccer Coaches; No. 3 seed NCAA Tournament
Past Week: (1-0) beat Samford in NCAA Tournament on Friday, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Lipscomb (NCAA Tournament, Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU took care of business in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. It will now head to the nation’s capital.
CROSS COUNTRY
Ranking: Men No. 9 USTFCCCA South Region; women No. 4 USTFCCCA South Region
Past Week: Men finished 10th at NCAA South Regional; women finished sixth
Upcoming: NCAA Championships (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: There were some strong individual performances for FSU, but the Seminoles failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships as a team.
Volleyball
Record: 13-11 (7-8 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost at Louisville on Thursday, 3-1
Upcoming: at Notre Dame (Sunday); vs. North Carolina (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Losers of three straight matches to top-15 opponents, FSU will look to right the ship on Sunday.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 16 CSCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Georgia Invite (Tuesday-Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will head to Athens for its final event of the fall.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 2-1
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost at Florida on Tuesday, 78-76
Upcoming: vs. UT Martin (Tuesday); vs. Georgia Southern (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 6 nationally*, first in ACC (4 total commitments)
Wrap-up: In the toughest test of the season, FSU came up short at rival Florida, but left with much to feel good about.
WomEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 3-1
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-1), lost at Connecticut on Sunday, 99-67; beat Nicholls on Wednesday, 89-64
Upcoming: vs. Indiana (Sunday); at Florida (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU bounced back from a loss at No. 1 UConn with an easy win.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
