Florida State soccer returns to Seminoles Soccer Complex this week as conference play begins for the No. 2 team in the nation.
The Seminoles (5-0-1) last took the field in a 3-0 win over Florida on Sunday, Sep. 8, earning the program’s seventh straight win over the Gators .
Hosting Syracuse (6-3-1) on Thursday, FSU will play its first game in 11 days and its first ACC game of the season against the Orange. The Seminoles will then hit the road to face one of the newest faces in the conference, SMU (6-3) on Sunday.
The last conference loss for the Seminoles came against the University of North Carolina in September of 2022, and the last time FSU failed to win an ACC game also came against the Tar Heels in last season’s 3-3 draw.
FSU has never lost to Syracuse, holding a 6-0-1 record with the lone tie coming in 2016, and four of the games between the two schools have been decided by one goal. Here are three keys to taking down the Orange.
- Shut down Erin Flurey and Ashley Rauch: The duo are the top goal scorers for the Orange, with three goals a piece, scoring six of Syracuse’s 17 goals this season. Both operate as forwards who can step back into midfield, so the pair could be a threat on the counter-attack if not tracked properly.
- Force goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch into difficult save opportunities: The Orange have conceded eight goals this season, however, five of them came in the last two games. Syracuse lost 4-1 to SMU and 1-0 to Virginia, and the Seminoles will provide the stiffest test as the team averages 28.7 shots and four goals per game and will force Syracuse’s goalkeeper She Vanderbosch into some difficult scenarios.
- Establish control in the midfield: Players like Taylor Huff and Carissa Boeckmann can help the Seminoles control games, dominating the midfield and eventually breaking down Syracuse’s back line and creating scoring chances. The midfield control will allow FSU to play the game at its own pace and keep the Orange’s chances to counterattack limited.