The five-time national champions bolstered their dynasty by landing Gardner-Webb standout Savannah Dixon. The All-Big South star joins Kate Ockene to form an impenetrable wall in Tallahassee.
The five-time women’s soccer national champions, Florida State, have gained a commitment from the 2025 All-Big South Goalkeeper of the Year, Savannah Dixon from Gardner-Webb.
The Lady Seminoles are the gold standard in the world of women’s collegiate soccer, having won national titles in 2014, 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2025.
Dixon played 18 games for the Lady Bulldogs (4-11-3) and allowed just 30 goals on the season, while saving 110 shots on goal (a save rate of 78 percent). She doubled the amount of saves that the Seminoles logged in 2025 and is exactly the goal-stopper the Seminoles need to bolster their roster and keep that run of championships alive and kicking for the foreseeable future.
Dixon will face some stiff competition from fellow goalkeeper and sophomore-to-be Kate Ockene, who recorded nine saves in the 1-0 victory over Stanford in the title game and was named Defensive Most Outstanding Player. In all NCAA tournament matches, Ockene posted 20 saves, which is sixth-most in program history in the postseason, and an in-goal record of 9-0-3. Overall, Ockene recorded 30 saves for the year.
In the final minutes against Stanford, Ockene recorded two saves that would have tied the game for Stanford, but it was not meant to be.
Dixon was the Defensive Player of the Week for her 90 minute-performance against Charleston Southern. She posted six saves on 22 shots (all in the second half) as Gardner-Webb defeated Charleston Southern 1-0.
Dixon’s career best came against Elon last season with 10 saves. She also posted eight saves against Stetson and four saves against Queens.
Another Defensive Player of the Week honor came against Presbyterian, in which Dixon posted seven saves, including five in the second half to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 victory. Dixon played 90 full minutes.
The Lady Seminoles landed three of their own on the All-American teams. Junior forward Jordyn Dudley earned first-team honors, midfielder Taylor Suarez landed on the second team, and defender Heather Gilchrist was a third-team selection.
Florida State will be loaded with talent once again next season. With Ockene and Dixon standing guard on goal, scoring could be difficult for Florida State’s opponents’ next season. Suarez and Dudley also return to lead the Seminoles on what could be another championship run.
Florida State is synonymous with winning soccer, and the best of the best want to play with the best. For her own growth as a player and the chance at winning a championship, Dixon has punched her ticket to Tallahassee.
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