“We are becoming a team”: Brian Pensky on FSU’s continued growth and chemistry

Florida State soccer, currently tied for No. 21, is 4-1-2 through its first seven games of the 2026 season, as head coach Brian Pensky continues working to bring the pieces together during his fifth season with the Seminoles.

Coming off a national championship and entering the season ranked No. 4, FSU has already faced some early challenges, with a loss to Florida and ties against Rice and NC State.

Communication, leadership, and building chemistry have been areas of focus as Florida State works through the early part of its season.

Following the 2-2 tie against NC State, the Seminoles entered a two-week break, giving Pensky and his team time to regroup and continue working on those areas before returning to ACC play.

In his first four seasons at Florida State, Pensky led the Seminoles to two national championships in 2023 and 2025 and a College Cup appearance in 2022.

Now in year five, Pensky is working with a roster that welcomed 16 new players this season, including 11 transfers and five freshmen. With several older players coming to Tallahassee after already having successful collegiate careers elsewhere, Pensky wants them to feel comfortable taking on leadership roles.

“We want our kids, and especially the older players that come here from other programs, having done a lot of things, they all need to feel empowered,” Pensky said during media availability on Sept. 1. “So, globally, I think our leadership is a work in progress.”

FSU has also dealt with lineup changes throughout the beginning of the season. Several Seminoles have been away from Tallahassee competing in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, while injuries and illness have also kept players off the field, forcing FSU to use different combinations.

“But I think we are becoming a team, but it’s a little bit, you know, awkward right now because we have six players who are very, very good players who are out, right?” Pensky said following FSU’s tie against Rice. “And so it’s left us kind of piecing some things together and approaching each game, finding a way to try and get a result in that game, as opposed to okay, this is what we want to look like come October, come November, come December, right?”

Communication on the field has also been an emphasis for Pensky.

“So our communication has got to get a lot better, right?” Pensky said following FSU’s 2-2 tie against NC State. “We got a lot of nice kids on our team who are a little bit quiet, right? And at the start of the game, I was a little worried about that, right? And so we asked the collection of the group to be loud.”

Despite the adjustments, Florida State has continued creating opportunities. Through seven games, the Seminoles have recorded 90 shots, with 49 on goal, and earned 32 corner kicks.

FSU has also had to respond to challenges, including a loss to Florida and ties against Rice and NC State. Against the Wolfpack, the Seminoles came from behind twice to earn the 2-2 tie.

“So, really proud of a lot of the effort,” Pensky said following the game. “We just got to stay together and keep fighting.”

Some of that leadership has also started to come from the back of the field.

“I think we’ve got to continue to improve our on-field organization and communication,” Pensky said. “You know, Kate does a really good job in the back line.”

Goalkeeper Kate Ockene has recorded 20 saves through the first seven games and earned ACC Goalkeeper of the Week honors earlier this month.

With different lineups and players out, Pensky has focused on finding what works in the moment while continuing to build towards what FSU can look like later in the season.

“I mean, bottom line, you got to find a way to get a result, right?” Pensky said following FSU’s tie against NC State.

With plenty of soccer still ahead, the break gives FSU time to continue working on its communication, leadership, and chemistry before returning to ACC play and entering the next stretch of its season.