No. 15 Florida State just saw its impressive seven-game unbeaten streak absolutely vanish. It was a brutal 2-0 loss to No. 17 University of Notre Dame on Saturday, October 24, at the Seminole Soccer Complex, and frankly, the Seminoles never really looked like themselves until it was too late. Notre Dame junior forward Izzy Engle was the absolute hero for the Fighting Irish, bagging both goals and ensuring FSU struggled from the jump.
First Half Nightmare: FSU Couldn’t Even Get a Shot Off
The first half was a tough watch if you were cheering for the Garnet and Gold. In front of what should have been a rocking home crowd, FSU struggled to establish *any* offense, failing to record a single shot before the break. Head coach Brian Pensky didn’t mince words after the game, saying, “They pressed us high, and the whole first half was played in our back half.” Notre Dame took control early, with Engle finding space in front of goal and opening the scoring in the 15th minute. That advantage carried into halftime.
It wasn’t just about missing shots, though. The Seminoles’ passive approach just let Notre Dame’s back line get comfortable, pushing forward while FSU couldn’t get its wingers or midfielders into the game. Without sustained possession, moving the attack upfield became a monumental task. Pensky highlighted the need for greater confidence, both on defense and when receiving the ball, because FSU’s inability to keep possession meant its attacking players barely got a sniff of a dangerous position.
The “Absolute Dagger” and a Fight That Fell Short
Any hope of a second-half reset got absolutely crushed almost immediately. Just 45 seconds after the restart, following a corner kick, Izzy Engle scored again. Two-nil. Pensky called it an “absolute dagger,” and you can’t argue with that. It gutted any momentum FSU might have hoped to build.
To their credit, the Garnet and Gold *did* respond with more attacking pressure after that second blow. Senior forward Tanner Strickland had a close-range attempt saved, and sophomore midfielder Nawreen Ahmad worked hard toward the penalty area. Junior forward Wrianna Hudson and junior midfielder Shaneil Buckley also got in on the action, pushing for that breakthrough goal. The intensity was there in the second half, and Pensky definitely saw a stronger response from his team. He pointed out that “there was an intensity and pace to this game that we haven’t seen,” and FSU matched that level more consistently in the second half, and even in stretches of the first. But against an opponent of Notre Dame’s quality, that effort has to be there for the full 90 minutes. You can’t give up a two-goal deficit and expect to just climb out of it against the No. 17 team in the country. The match got super physical as the half wore on, with the home crowd getting loud about some officiating decisions, but Notre Dame held on for the shutout.
This result really hammers home how tiny openings can become game-deciding moments against nationally ranked opponents. Pensky might credit his defenders, but Engle capitalized on every chance she got. As Pensky perfectly put it, “Every little moment matters.” This one’s a tough lesson, and a wake-up call after a killer unbeaten run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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