The defending national champions battle the Bulldogs in a high-stakes road test, aiming to reclaim momentum after a historic unbeaten streak ended during their season-opening road swing.
The previous games against in-state opponents were merely a rehearsal.
The real performance begins on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., in Athens, Georgia.
The No. 15 Florida State women’s soccer team travels to the Turner Soccer Complex to take on No. 25 Georgia for its first matchup of the season between two ranked opponents.
Florida State has played six matchups against Georgia, winning three of them. Both of the Seminoles’ losses against the Bulldogs were on the road. Their most recent meeting resulted in a 1-1 draw in 2024 at home. Florida State won 3-1 in 2022, its most recent road matchup.
When the two teams tied 1-1 in 2024, Florida State (No. 1) and Georgia (No. 24) were on opposite ends of the top 25 rankings. An equalizer in the 64th minute maintained a non-conference unbeaten streak that went as far as 36 games until most recently.
The streak was snapped by Florida in a 3-1 loss on August 23 in Gainesville. The loss also snapped the Seminoles’ eight-game win streak against the Gators, which was the longest streak by either team in the bitter rivalry. Florida State is 18-14-0 all-time against Florida.
Since 2019, the Seminoles have won 32 of their last 37 regular-season non-conference games.
The Bulldogs improved to 3-1-2 after a 2-0 win against Mercer this past Sunday. Georgia’s lone loss came last week against TCU, which won 3-2. The Bulldogs have won through their defense, as all three victories have been clean sheets, two of which were at home.
The Seminoles (3-1-0) spent most of the season on the road, which is unique for a program of their caliber. 1-0-0 at home and 2-1-0 on the road. Thursday's top-25 matchup comes after 10 days off,
The defending national champions have scored 10 goals on eight assists through the first four games in the Sunshine State. Seven different Seminoles scored this season, including four newcomers.
Florida State is led by senior forward Tanner Strickland, who has scored two goals with an assist for five points. Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Ockene has posted two clean sheets with seven saves for the Seminoles.
The Seminoles won their fifth national championship last year but only return four starters and are adjusting to a new-look roster that includes the top-ranked recruiting class (5 freshmen and 11 transfers) by Top Drawer Soccer.
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. After their battle with the Bulldogs, the Seminoles will host Rice on Sunday.
