TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State senior Heather Payne was named Ireland’s Young Women’s International Player of the Year at the 33rd FAI International Awards on Tuesday in her home country. A native of Ballinasloe, Payne helped the Republic of Ireland senior women’s team qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup for the first time. Payne earned third team All-ACC honors as a defender for the Seminoles as a senior last season. She played in 18 games for FSU’s 2022 College Cup team and started 16 at right-back. She totaled four goals and four assists on the season and helped lead a defense that recorded 11 shutouts in 23 games. Payne was a junior on FSU’s NCAA National Championship team in 2021. She played 110 minutes in the championship match and converted her penalty kick in the shootout victory. In addition, she earned ACC All-Freshman honors in 2019. As a youngster, Payne represented Ballinasloe Town and the ADSL, before going on to play for Salthill Devon and Peamount United. She is the daughter of Gráinne and Brendan Payne.