LeiLanni Nesbeth and her Florida State University team-mates face one of the final hurdles in their attempt to defend the NCAA Division 1 title when they face Notre Dame this week.

The two universities clash in the Atlantic Coast Conference semi-final in the second match of a double-header at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, on Thursday, and Nesbeth goes into the match high on confidence after scoring in Florida State’s 4-1 win over Virginia Tech in their conference-season finale.

That win earned the university a share of ACC regular-season honours and featured Florida State’s second-fastest goal of the season when Nesbeth struck after only 60 seconds and the midfielder is pleased with the way her team is performing.

“I felt that the team played well and we knew the importance of winning and also understanding the significance of the goals in the game,” Nesbeth told The Royal Gazette.

“I felt I played well and was obviously excited to get on the score sheet early in the game. I think it put it us in a good spot and then to obviously get the second goal soon after with a great effort from my team-mate Joe [Jenna Nighswonge]. I think we came out with intensity and controlled the game well and I’m looking forward to playing a good team in the semi -final.”

No 2 seed, and defending ACC champions, Florida State received a bye in the quarter-finals while Notre Dame sneaked past Pittsburgh on penalties at the weekend.

The other semi-final features No 1 seed University of North Carolina against No 5 seed Duke.

Like Florida State, University of Carolina also received a bye in the quarter-finals while Duke clinched their spot in the last four after edging Virginia 2-1 at the weekend.

Florida State clinched a third national title and first in a decade after prevailing over Brigham Young University on penalties during last season’s NCAA Division I final.