Florida State University Athletics
Cristina Roque: Top Goalkeeper; Even Better Student and Teammate
8/19/2023 2:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State's Cristina Roque began her soccer career as a high scoring, right-footed forward. One day, when she was 11, the team's goalkeeper didn't show up for practice, and she was asked to be the last line of defense.
She hasn't played any other position on a soccer field since that day.
Roque entered the 2023 season as a two-time All-American, the reigning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, and considered to be one of the top players at her position in college soccer. She's ranked among the top five in school history for career shutouts (third, 26), wins (fourth, 40), goals against average (fifth, 0.64) and minutes played (fifth, 4647). She was unbeaten as the Seminoles' starter in the first 40 matches of her career (32-0-8). When Roque starts in goal in the last three seasons, the Seminoles have a winning percentage of better than 91 percent (40-2-9, .912 percent).
Roque, who was one of two Seminoles named to the 2023 preseason All-ACC team (along with forward Jody Brown), and her teammates opened the season with a 2-1 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday night. Roque played all 90 minutes in the goal and recorded three saves for FSU. Florida State was picked to finish second in the ACC in a vote by the league's 14 head coaches and voted as the nation's No. 6 ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. The Seminoles have been ranked within the nation's top 15 in every single week of Roque's career in the Garnet and Gold.
Roque led the Seminoles to the program's third national championship in 2021 and to the NCAA Championship Semifinals in both 2020 and 2022. She's undefeated, 3-0, in ACC Championship games, having led Florida State to the title in the nation's top conference for soccer in each of her first three seasons.
And soccer isn't all she is good at.
According to Brian Pensky, the Seminoles' second-year head coach, Roque is an even better person than she is a soccer player.
"Her ability as a goalkeeper certainly sets her apart, but so does her personality and what she's all about," said Pensky. "Cristina is always a "team-first" individual. She loves her teammates, and certainly, they love her. And equally as important, everyone has an extremely high level of respect for her in every possible way."
Her family and her incredible personality have made Roque who she is today.
In addition to her success on the soccer field, Roque is also an academic standout who earned her bachelor's in Marketing in the spring of 2023. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Florida State's acclaimed College of Business
"It has always been school before soccer," said Roque, who has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in each of her first three seasons. "Graduation has always been the goal. I have learned the importance of school, and making academics a priority. I have grown up around others who have pushed me to be academically successful. I am so grateful to begin my Master's degree while finishing my eligibility at Florida State."
Roque was a member of the National Honor Society, the Academic Honor Roll and the Academic Athletic Honor Roll as one of the nation's top recruits as a student-athlete at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla.
Roque, whose first love has always been soccer, began playing the game with her sister, when she was eight.
"My older sister, Erika, introduced me to soccer," said Roque. "She motivated me to train and get better with her."
Seminole teammate Leilanni Nesbeth, who played on Florida State's 2021 National Championship team, has watched Roque develop from a promising freshman into the leader she is today.
"I've known Cristina going on four years now, and she has undoubtedly made my career at FSU the best four years of my life," said Nesbeth. "She's a great friend, a genuine person with a big heart and a huge smile that is nothing but contagious. She is destined for so much success simply because of the person she is. We are all so grateful to have a goalkeeper we know will get the job done, but even more thankful to have a friend in her forever."
Roque is quick to defer her growth and success to her teammates.
"I wholeheartedly believe that I would not be in the position I am now without all of my teammates that I have played with at FSU," said Roque. "I would not be the player I am today without learning and looking up to my current and past teammates, while learning from them and their experiences. This is a team sport, and I could not have accomplished any of my goals without my teammates."
It's Roque and her teammates who are currently upholding the magnificent legacy of the Florida State soccer program on the strength of their success.
Since 2000 Florida State has made 23 straight NCAA Tournaments, advancing at least as far as the quarterfinals in 16 of the last 17 seasons. In the program's 27-year existence, the Seminoles have won three National Championships, five ACC regular season titles, 10 ACC Tournament titles and have played in 13 College Cups.
"Being part of this program, one that prides itself on success, has made us realize that it is bigger than a game," said Roque. "We have created an environment that allows us to call each other family. Throughout my career, I have been part of a support system of teammates and staff, who have, without a doubt, molded me into the player and person I am today."
The program is what drew Roque to become a Seminole.
"The level and standard that my teammates hold each other to, is the reason why we all improve throughout our four years," said Roque. "That level is also a big reason why we aspire to play professionally after college, as well. We hold each other accountable so that we can compete for the same goals – to win national championships."
"It's the reason why a lot of players decide to come to FSU. Being surrounded by many of the top players in the nation motivates you to compete at your highest potential."
For Pensky, the opportunity to coach top-tier talent at one of the most successful programs in the nation, is what drew the 2010 National Coach of the Year to Tallahassee.
"Before I became the coach at Florida State, I watched and studied FSU soccer from afar for many years," said Pensky. "I had watched Cristina repeatedly have ice in her veins in the heat of battle. Calm and cool, and in control, always. And that continues to be the case."
She hasn't played any other position on a soccer field since that day.
Roque entered the 2023 season as a two-time All-American, the reigning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, and considered to be one of the top players at her position in college soccer. She's ranked among the top five in school history for career shutouts (third, 26), wins (fourth, 40), goals against average (fifth, 0.64) and minutes played (fifth, 4647). She was unbeaten as the Seminoles' starter in the first 40 matches of her career (32-0-8). When Roque starts in goal in the last three seasons, the Seminoles have a winning percentage of better than 91 percent (40-2-9, .912 percent).
Roque, who was one of two Seminoles named to the 2023 preseason All-ACC team (along with forward Jody Brown), and her teammates opened the season with a 2-1 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday night. Roque played all 90 minutes in the goal and recorded three saves for FSU. Florida State was picked to finish second in the ACC in a vote by the league's 14 head coaches and voted as the nation's No. 6 ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. The Seminoles have been ranked within the nation's top 15 in every single week of Roque's career in the Garnet and Gold.
Roque led the Seminoles to the program's third national championship in 2021 and to the NCAA Championship Semifinals in both 2020 and 2022. She's undefeated, 3-0, in ACC Championship games, having led Florida State to the title in the nation's top conference for soccer in each of her first three seasons.
And soccer isn't all she is good at.
According to Brian Pensky, the Seminoles' second-year head coach, Roque is an even better person than she is a soccer player.
"Her ability as a goalkeeper certainly sets her apart, but so does her personality and what she's all about," said Pensky. "Cristina is always a "team-first" individual. She loves her teammates, and certainly, they love her. And equally as important, everyone has an extremely high level of respect for her in every possible way."
Her family and her incredible personality have made Roque who she is today.
In addition to her success on the soccer field, Roque is also an academic standout who earned her bachelor's in Marketing in the spring of 2023. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Florida State's acclaimed College of Business
"It has always been school before soccer," said Roque, who has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in each of her first three seasons. "Graduation has always been the goal. I have learned the importance of school, and making academics a priority. I have grown up around others who have pushed me to be academically successful. I am so grateful to begin my Master's degree while finishing my eligibility at Florida State."
Roque was a member of the National Honor Society, the Academic Honor Roll and the Academic Athletic Honor Roll as one of the nation's top recruits as a student-athlete at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla.
Roque, whose first love has always been soccer, began playing the game with her sister, when she was eight.
"My older sister, Erika, introduced me to soccer," said Roque. "She motivated me to train and get better with her."
Seminole teammate Leilanni Nesbeth, who played on Florida State's 2021 National Championship team, has watched Roque develop from a promising freshman into the leader she is today.
"I've known Cristina going on four years now, and she has undoubtedly made my career at FSU the best four years of my life," said Nesbeth. "She's a great friend, a genuine person with a big heart and a huge smile that is nothing but contagious. She is destined for so much success simply because of the person she is. We are all so grateful to have a goalkeeper we know will get the job done, but even more thankful to have a friend in her forever."
Roque is quick to defer her growth and success to her teammates.
"I wholeheartedly believe that I would not be in the position I am now without all of my teammates that I have played with at FSU," said Roque. "I would not be the player I am today without learning and looking up to my current and past teammates, while learning from them and their experiences. This is a team sport, and I could not have accomplished any of my goals without my teammates."
It's Roque and her teammates who are currently upholding the magnificent legacy of the Florida State soccer program on the strength of their success.
Since 2000 Florida State has made 23 straight NCAA Tournaments, advancing at least as far as the quarterfinals in 16 of the last 17 seasons. In the program's 27-year existence, the Seminoles have won three National Championships, five ACC regular season titles, 10 ACC Tournament titles and have played in 13 College Cups.
"Being part of this program, one that prides itself on success, has made us realize that it is bigger than a game," said Roque. "We have created an environment that allows us to call each other family. Throughout my career, I have been part of a support system of teammates and staff, who have, without a doubt, molded me into the player and person I am today."
The program is what drew Roque to become a Seminole.
"The level and standard that my teammates hold each other to, is the reason why we all improve throughout our four years," said Roque. "That level is also a big reason why we aspire to play professionally after college, as well. We hold each other accountable so that we can compete for the same goals – to win national championships."
"It's the reason why a lot of players decide to come to FSU. Being surrounded by many of the top players in the nation motivates you to compete at your highest potential."
For Pensky, the opportunity to coach top-tier talent at one of the most successful programs in the nation, is what drew the 2010 National Coach of the Year to Tallahassee.
"Before I became the coach at Florida State, I watched and studied FSU soccer from afar for many years," said Pensky. "I had watched Cristina repeatedly have ice in her veins in the heat of battle. Calm and cool, and in control, always. And that continues to be the case."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
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