Florida State soccer started the 2026 season with wins over Stetson and Florida International University, extending the Seminoles' unbeaten streak in regular-season non-conference games to 35. The defending national champions opened the season with a 4-0 win over Stetson in DeLand on Thursday, Aug. 13, with goals from transfers Sam Erbach, Tanner Strickland and Joelle Jung, alongside a first career goal for junior midfielder Peyton McGovern. Strickland added an assist to her goal, and both Ashley Henderon and Olivia Page registered one assist each to round out the creative output. It wasn't the cleanest game from the Seminoles despite the scoreline, but the four second-half goals provided more than enough reasons for optimism for a new-look squad. FSU followed its season-opening victory with a 2-0 win in Miami over FIU. Wrianna Hudson scored her first of the season in the 55th minute, bundling home a loose ball after some chaotic defending from the Panthers. She scored a minute before Nyanya Touray, who wrapped her foot around a ball from outside the 18-yard box and curled it into the top left corner. he 56ht minute
Nyanya Touray, what a strike from distance! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zcnrnngRsP — FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) August 16, 2026 It was the second straight match where the Seminoles opened the floodgates in the second half, with all six goals this season coming in the second 45. Here's what we learned from the Seminoles' opening week of the season. Brian Pensky is using heavy rotation as he looks for his strongest 11 The Seminoles used 22 players in the win over Stetson and 21 against FIU as Seminoles head coach Brian Pensky is managing his squad's minutes. It's the same tactic he implored last season, and it paid dividends with multiple players fresh in the later rounds of the NCAA Tournament. It's a luxury for Pensky, and one he's willing to take with 16 new faces on the roster. The Seminoles are undoubtedly talented, but finding the right combination of players on the field is the main priority for the coaching staff during the non-conference slate. Outside of goalkeepers Kate Ockene, who logged 90 minutes vs. Stetson, and Fernanda Mayrink, who played a full 90 against FIU, nobody on the Seminoles' roster played more than 70 minutes in either game. Expect to see that trend continue as Pensky keeps his squad fresh ahead of conference play. The Seminoles look sound defensively While there are still some minor details to work out offensively, the Seminoles' defense looks sound. FSU allowed two shots against Stetson, and while the number jumped to nine against FIU, the Panthers registered just two shots on goal, and most of the efforts were speculative at best. Neither Ockene nor Mayrink was truly challenged in goal, even with the heavy rotation of players being used in defense. Second-year Seminole Janet Okeke remains the program's top defender, and she played two relatively clean games to open the season. Pensky will shuffle around the backline, but he's got a combination of Okeke, Claire Rain, Bridget Mutipula, Jadia McGrew and Kai Price, among others to select from. FSU's transfers making an immediate impact
The opening goal of Wrianna Hudson's 2026 campaign! pic.twitter.com/dULWGdqFwW — FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) August 16, 2026 The Seminoles' transfers made an immediate impact in the opening two goals of the season. Of the four goals against Stetson, three came off the boot of newcomers in Erbach, Strickland and Jung. While the two goal scorers against FU were returning players, Hudson and Touray, Erbach was a standout performer, and Anaiyah Robinson provided an assist. Henderson, the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Memphis last season, continues to get involved when she's on the pitch. It's a positive sign for the Seminoles as they integrate a roster that is mostly new faces. What's next for FSU soccer? Home opener vs FAU
When: Thursday, Aug. 21 / 7 p.m. Where: Seminole Soccer Complex / Tallahassee, Florida Watch: ACC Network Extra
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU soccer has perfect opening week of the season: What we learned