Clemson and Florida State advance to ACC Women’s Soccer Championship
CARY, N.C. (theACC.com) – Clemson and Florida State are moving on in the 2023 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship after Thursday’s semifinal round from WakeMed Soccer Park.
The Tigers make their first appearance in the Championship final since 2002, while the Seminoles seek their fourth straight ACC title and 10th overall. This will be the first time Clemson and Florida State will meet in the Ally ACC Tournament since the 2019 quarterfinals.
Tickets for Sunday’s final of the 2023 Ally ACC Championship are on sale now and can be purchased at theacc.co/23champtix. Single-day adult general admission tickets are $10. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free soccer scarf.
Admission is free for youth ages 18 and under, Town of Cary employees and students of ACC institutions.
No. 3 Clemson 3, No. 2 Notre Dame 2 | HIGHLIGHTS
Three goals from three different players propelled the Tigers into the title match, as Clemson avenged a regular-season setback to Notre Dame. After Megan Bornkamp gave the Tigers a 1-0 advantage heading into the halftime break, the Fighting Irish evened the score on a Maddie Mercado goal in the 50th minute.
Clemson responded quickly with a 53rd minute goal off the foot of Tatum Short and later capitalized from a penalty-kick goal in the 65th minute from Caroline Canti that would be the eventual game-winning tally. Notre Dame’s Morgan Roy added the Irish’s second goal in the 74th minute but the second-half rally fell short, as Clemson clinched a spot in Sunday’s title match.
The 2023 ACC Goalkeeper of the Year Halle Mackiewicz made four saves and faced 18 shots on the evening. Becoming the first No. 3 seed to advance to the title match since Virginia in 2019, Clemson looks to be the first No. 3 seed to win the championship since North Carolina in 2009.
No. 1 Florida State 2, No. 5 Pitt 0 | HIGHLIGHTS
Jordynn Dudley and Beata Olsson scored back-to-back second-half goals to lead Florida State to a 2-0 victory and its fourth straight appearance in the ACC title match. The Seminoles carry an eight-match winning streak into Sunday’s final and improve to 15-0-1 on the season.
After the teams went into the halftime break scoreless, Dudley broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when teammate Jody Brown lofted a cross into the Pitt box. The ball found the head of Dudley and Seminoles took a late 1-0 advantage. The Seminoles added an insurance goal in the 75th minute when Taylor Huff’s corner kick was headed in by Olsson.
FSU goalkeeper Cristina Roque made three saves on the night and recorded her 35th career shutout, the fourth-most among all active goalkeepers in Division I. The Seminoles have not allowed a goal in their last three matches and have outscored their opponents 11-0 in the span.
2023 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship
First Round | Sunday, Oct. 29
#3 Clemson 1, #6 Wake Forest 0
#5 Pitt 2, #4 North Carolina 1 (OT)
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 2
#3 Clemson 3, #2 Notre Dame 2
#1 Florida State 2, #5 Pitt 0
Final | Sunday, Nov. 5
#3 Clemson vs. #1 Florida State | Noon | ESPNU
