Noles News: FSU soccer earns double ACC Player of the Week awards

Football

Florida State honored Chuck Amato, who served as an assistant from 1982 to 1999 and from 2007 to 2009 with the Seminoles. He was also the head coach at NC State, where he led the Wolfpack to an 11-3 season in 2002 as well as wins in the Gator and Tangerine Bowl in 2002 and 2003.

Soccer

Grace Hoythink was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in shutting out No. 4 Wake Forest on Thursday. In addition, Kate Ockene was also named ACC Goalkeeper of the Week for her efforts in the win over Wake:

Ockene earns her second career Goalkeeper of the Week honor, after also being recognized on September 8. Hoytink is bestowed with weekly conference accolades for the first time in her career.

With three weekly awards in 2026, the Seminoles have their most weekly honors since they received five in 2023. Ockene is the first player to be recognized twice in the same season since Onyi Echegini was a two-time Offensive Player of the Week in 2023.

This is the first year the ACC has awarded ACC Goalkeeper of the Week honors, as goalkeepers previously were eligible to be named ACC Defensive Player of the Week. Ockene is the first Seminole goalkeeper to earn multiple weekly honors since Cristinia Roque was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Week once in 2020 and again in 2021. The last goalkeeper recognized twice in the same season was Cassie Miller in 2016.

Hoytink and Ockene helped Florida State to a 2-0-0 weekend, with a 2-0 win at No. 4 Wake Forest on October 15 before a 2-1 victory at Pitt on October 18. The wins stretched FSU’s unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games, with a three-game win streak.

Sunday at Pitt, Hoytink scored her first career goal, the eventual game-winner, and assisted on the team’s opening goal for her first point of the year. It was Hoytink’s first multi-point game of her four-year career. In the win at Wake Forest, Hoytink helped hold the Demon Deacons to just four shots on goal, tied for their second-fewest on the season.

Ockene made four saves in each victory last week. The clean sheet at Wake Forest was Ockene’s fourth this season and just the third time the Demon Deacons were held goalless. WF’s 23-game unbeaten streak at home came to an end, which also was the last time Wake was shut out on its home pitch. Three days later, Ockene improved to 6-1-3 on the season with another four-save outing at Pitt.

Up next for Hoytink and Ockene is a top-20 matchup at the Seminole Soccer Complex, as No. 15 FSU hosts No. 17 Notre Dame on Saturday, October 24, at 7 p.m. ET. 

Basketball

ICYMI — Alex Steen is now eligible for FSU men’s basketball:

Florida State Athletics confirms that men’s basketball student-athlete Alex Steen is currently eligible to participate in competition following a temporary injunction issued Monday by the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County.

The court’s ruling permits Steen to compete immediately and remains in effect unless modified or lifted by further court order.

The injunction is temporary and does not constitute a final resolution of the underlying legal proceedings. Steen’s eligibility remains subject to potential future judicial action as the legal process continues.

Florida State respects the judicial process and will continue to monitor developments while operating in accordance with the court’s current order.

Steen remains a member of the Seminoles’ men’s basketball program and is eligible to participate in all team activities and competition at this time.

FSU women’s basketball tips off in 13 days against Merrimack:

The NBA tipped off Tuesday night, and there are six Seminoles in the league this year. Scottie Barnes of Toronto, Terance Mann of Brooklyn, Devin Vassell of San Antonio, Jamir Watkins of Washington, Patrick Williams of Chicago, and Jonathan Isaac of Orlando.

All Sports

FSU Softball has revealed its schedule for this upcoming season, which includes five games in the Sarasota Classic as well as a road trip to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide just before ACC Conference play begins:

The defending ACC champions will play 38 games in the state of Florida and face 13 teams that qualified for last season’s NCAA Tournament, including three teams that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Florida State opens the season Feb. 11-14 at the inaugural Sarasota Classic at the newly constructed 17th Street Regional Sports Complex. The Seminoles will face JMU on Feb. 11 in the first meeting between the two programs before taking on Baylor on Feb. 12. The Seminoles will play a doubleheader on Feb. 13 against Texas State and Alabama, last season’s No. 1 overall NCAA Tournament seed and a Women’s College World Series participant, before closing the tournament against Ohio State on Feb. 14.

The Seminoles travel to Fort Myers for a Feb. 16 matchup against FGCU before heading to Clearwater for the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, Feb. 18-21. Florida State enters its eighth appearance at the tournament with a 22-10 record. The Seminoles are scheduled to play four games, with opponents to be announced.

The Seminoles return to Tallahassee for their home opener at the annual JoAnne Graf Classic, Feb. 25-28. Florida State opens against Florida A&M on Thursday before a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. The Seminoles face Maryland and Middle Tennessee State on Friday, followed by Maryland and Southern Illinois on Saturday. FSU closes the tournament against Middle Tennessee State on Sunday.

Following a midweek matchup against West Florida on March 3, Florida State hosts the annual Dugout Club Classic, March 5-7. The Seminoles open with a doubleheader against Colgate and Creighton on Friday before facing Creighton and FIU on Saturday. Florida State concludes the tournament against FIU on Sunday.

The Seminoles travel to face South Alabama on March 10 before competing in the Tournament of Champions, hosted by Alabama, March 12-14. Florida State will play Fresno State twice and Cal State Fullerton once before closing the tournament against Alabama.

Florida State opens ACC play on the road at North Carolina, March 19-21, beginning its eight-series conference schedule. The Seminoles return home for a midweek matchup against Stetson on March 24 before hosting Stanford March 26-28.

The Seminoles begin April with back-to-back road series at Cal, April 2-4, and Pitt, April 9-11. Florida State then travels to Stetson for a midweek matchup on April 14 before returning to Tallahassee for seven consecutive home games.

Georgia Tech visits JoAnne Graf Field, April 16-18, to open the homestand. Florida State then hosts Florida on April 21 before closing the homestand against Virginia Tech, April 23-25.

The Seminoles travel to Gainesville for a matchup against Florida on April 28 before heading to Charlottesville for their final ACC road series at Virginia, April 30-May 2.

Florida State closes its regular season at home against Duke, May 7-9. The ACC Tournament will follow May 12-15 in Clemson, South Carolina.

Florida State Splatoon (Esports) had two of its teams play in the Collegiate Cephalopod Association Circuit over the weekend.

FSU Garnet and Goldfish played in Division 1 and finished 3-1 with wins over UCF and Texas A&M White. They advanced to the knockout stage and finished tied for 5th place.

FSU Duck Duck Gorse played in Division 2 and finished with a 2-2 set record with wins over UC Davis and the Bobsplats. They finished tied for 5th,

FSU Gamboge played in Division 3 and finished 3-1, just barely missing out on advancing to the knockout stage. They lost on an opponent win percentage tiebreaker to Texas A&M Century, finishing 9th out of 24 teams.