By Official Florida FC

The top of the United Soccer Coaches women’s soccer rankings did not change.

Florida State University was the top-ranked team following the fall season which saw Mark Krikorian’s team finish 11-0-0 and earn midfielder Jaelin Howell a berth on the U.S. women’s national team. The Seminoles remained in that position in the first ranking of 2021, which were released March 2.

Florida State earned 28 of 34 first-place votes. North Carolina, the team Florida State beat for the ACC title in November, is No. 2. UCLA (4-0-0) is third, followed by TCU (8-0-1) in fourth and Duke (7-4-2) in fifth. Southeastern Conference tournament champion Vanderbilt (9-4) is sixth.

Florida State was the only Florida team ranked in the Division I standings. However, South Florida (2-0-1), Central Florida (2-1), Florida (3-7-2) and Florida Gulf Coast (2-1-2) also received votes.

Photo by Sara D. Davis, the Atlantic Coast Conference and used with permission from Florida State University athletics.