Seminoles one of two Florida programs ranked to start 2021 season
By Official Florida FC
Florida State enters the 2021 season as the team to beat.
The Seminoles were ranked No. 1 in the country by the United Soccer Coaches earlier this month. Florida State was undefeated during the 2020-21 season until falling to Santa Clara in penalty kicks in the national final.
Florida State (13-1-2 in 2020) returns 10 of the starting XI that lost to the Broncos in May’s national championship game.
Goalkeeper Cristina Roque as well as defenders Kirsten Pavlisko, Emily Madril, Clara Robbins and Gabby Carle started all 16 games for the Seminoles last year. Robbins was the leading scorer with six goals and six assists. Super sub Jenna Nighswonger, who appeared in all 16 games scored five goals, including one in regulation against Santa Clara.
Carle will enter the season with confidence after helping Canada win gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Head coach Mark Krikorian will also field a trio of others with international experience in USWNT midfielder Jaelin Howell, Jamaican international Jody Brown and Chinese international Zhao Yujie will be a creative force in the middle of the park.
Florida State earned 11 of 33 first place votes. The Seminoles are followed by Santa Clara, North Carolina, Virginia and UCLA. Duke, Clemson, Texas Christian, Texas A&M and Penn State round out the top 10.
Florida State will host Texas A&M in its 2021 season opener on Aug. 19.
South Florida returns nuclues from stellar 2020-21 season
USF was the only other Florida program ranked in the preseason poll. The No. 20 Bulls won the American Athletic Conference and finished the 2020-21 season 10-1-2.
USF conceded six times in 13 times last year. Goalkeeper Sydney Martinez, who produced six clean sheets last season, returns as do the two outfield players who played the most minutes last year in defenders Chyanne Dennis and Vivianne Bessette.
The Bulls will start the season with a pair of in-state foes with home games against Florida (Aug. 19) and UNF on Aug. 22.
