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LeiLanni Nesbeth and Florida State book spot in College Cup

Marching on: Florida State players including Bermuda’s Leilanni Nesbeth (13) celebrate the only goal of the game as they booked progression through to the College Cup after edging Arkansas 1-0 in the NCAA quarter-finals

Bermuda’s LeiLanni Nesbeth helped Florida State University into the College Cup after edging Arkansas 1-0 in the NCAA quarter-finals.

In front of a crowd of 2,667, the largest post-season attendance in Florida State history and the sixth largest crowd at the Seminole Soccer Complex, the top seeds lived up to expectation after overcoming the third seeds.

After an evenly-fought first half, in which the visitors enjoyed the greater share of possession, Florida grabbed the decisive goal eight minutes after the interval.

Leilanni Nesbeth (Photograph by Florida State University)

A Jenna Nighswonger inswinging corner from the right-hand side, curled towards the near post with an Arkansas inadvertently diverting the ball into her own net. It was Nighswonger’s sixth assist of the campaign, in which she has also chipped in with three goals.

Arkansas searched for a route back into the encounter but FSU goalkeeper Cristina Roque was in top form, making fiver saves from the 11 attempts on goal, to keep her clean sheet intact as her team held on for victory.

The win means Florida State progress through to their 13th College Cup appearance in the university’s history and fourth in previous five seasons.

In the semi-finals, FSU will face off against second seeds North Carolina on December 2 in a rematch of the ACC Championship encounter on November 6, which saw the Seminoles prevail in narrow 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Nighswonger and Jody Brown.

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Published November 29, 2022 at 7:44 am (Updated November 29, 2022 at 7:44 am)

LeiLanni Nesbeth and Florida State book spot in College Cup

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