Florida State University Athletics
2019 Women's Soccer Roster
Roster
Payne, Heather

Jersey Number 12
Heather Payne
- Position:
- Midfielder/Defender
- Year:
- Freshman
- Height:
- 5-7
- Hometown:
- Ballinasloe, Ireland
- High School:
- Ardscoil Mhuire Ballinasloe
Bio
Career Accolades:
- All-ACC Third Team (2022)
- 2021 National Champion
- ACC All-Freshman Team (2019)
2022 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Played in 18 games and started in 16 as a right-back during her senior season.
- Finished the season with a career-high four goals and four assists for 12 points.
- Helped lead a defense that recorded 11 shutouts in 23 games while holding the opponents to 0.87 goals per game.
- Recorded two starts on the opening weekend and played every minute at center back against No. 12 South Carolina (8/18) and Georgia (8/21).
- Scored a goal for Florida State in a 1-1 draw against No. 16 Auburn (8/25). The goal came on a penalty kick.
- Had a career-high two assists in FSU’s 5-1 win over Lousiville (9/22).
- Scored the game’s only goal for Florida State in a 1-0 win against Miami (10/1). The goal came on a penalty kick.
- Earned her third assist on the Semionles’ second goal against Virginia Tech (10/27) in a 4-1 victory.
- Scored FSU’s second goal in a 3-3 game against No. 4 Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament Semifinals (11/3).
- Recorded an assist during the Seminoles’ 4-1 win over LSU (11/18) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Scored her fourth goal of the season in FSU’s 3-2 loss to North Carolina in the College Cup Semifinals (12/2)
2021 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Played in 11 games with two starts for a total of 355 minutes.
- Earned her first star of the season against South Alabama (8/26)
- Her second start of the season came in the National Championship game against BYU (12/6). Payne played 108 of the 110 minutes and made one of the Seminoles four PKs in their 4-3 PK win.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Played in 11 games for the Seminoles with five starts, playing a total of 382 minutes.
- After missing the first two games of the season because of international duty she earned minutes in each of Florida State’s games against Virginia Tech (10/1), Wake Forest (10/4) and Pittsburgh (10/15).
- Played 168 minutes in her six games of action, recording one shot against Wake Forest and two against Pitt.
- Earned her first start of the season against No. 12 Notre Dame (11/10) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal.
- Recorded an assist in FSU’s 4-0 win over No. 6 Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals (11/13).
- Started in four of the five NCAA Tournament games for the Seminoles on their way to the National Championship game.
2019 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Started in all 20 matches she played in during her freshman season.
- Recorded a goal in her first career game against TCU (8/22). She was the first Seminole freshman to score a goal in their first game since Deyna Castellanos did so in 2016.
- Finished the season with two goals and two assists, while playing the center back position most of the season.
- Was on the field to help the Seminoles to nine shutouts this season as a defender.
- Registered and assist on the game-winning goal by Malia Berkely in the second game of the season, leading to an overtime win over a ranked Wisconsin team (8/25).
- Earned her second goal of the season against Miami (10/18) in a 3-0 Florida State win.
- Assisted on the equalizer against No. 17 USF in the third round of the NCAA Tournament (11/24) on a nice pass from the right side of the box to Jaelin Howell who was standing inside the six-yard box.
International Honors:
- Current member of the Republic of Ireland Senior Women’s team (8 caps)
- Member of Ireland's 2023 FIFA World Cup roster
- Ireland Senior Women’s International debut Ireland vs. Scotland at age 17
- Member of the Irish Senior Women’s National Team who took part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Campaign
- Republic of Ireland U19 Women’s National Team from 2017-19 (12 caps)
- Republic of Ireland U17 Women’s National Team from 2015-17 (24 caps)
- Competed in two UEFA U17 European Championship Finals in Iceland 2015 & The Czech Republic 2017
- Republic of Ireland U16 Women’s National Team from 2015-16 (7 caps)
- Republic of Ireland U15 Women’s National Team 2014-15 (8 caps)
Club Honors:
- Signing with Bristol City WFC who compete in the English FAWSL
- Member of Peamount Utd, Runners up in the Irish Women’s National League 2017
- Galway Gaynor Cup Winners 2016, Player of the Tournament
- Salthill Devon FC, All-Ireland National U16 Champions – Player of the Match
- Represented Connaught in the School’s Interprovincial Tournament in 2013/2014/2015
Honors & Awards:
- FAI U17 International Player of the Year nomination 2018
- FAI U16 International Player of the Year 2015
- Vice-Captain of the Irish Women’s U19 Team
- Captained Ireland at the U17 UEFA European Championship Finals vs. England
- Women’s National League Young Player of the Year nomination 2017
- Women’s National League Player of the Month 2017
- Peamount Utd Player’s Player of the Year 2017
- Ballinasloe People of the Year Award 2017
- Roscommon Herald Overall Sportsperson of the Year 2016
- Westmeath Independent Soccer Sportsperson of the Year 2013/2016
Personal:
- Daughter of Grainne and Brendan Payne
- Played Gaelic Football and swam
- Member of her high school’s German debate team (runner-up finish in the 2017 regional finals)
- Member of her schools Spikeball and Gaelic Football team.
- Member of the school choral society (2012-18) playing a major role in the school musical.
- Uncle Tommy Carmody was a champion National Hunt Jockey of the modern era.
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