TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida State Soccer team kick starts the 2013 campaign Friday, August 23 when the Seminoles host Oregon State at 7:00 p.m. inside the Seminole Soccer Complex in the season opener for both schools. Admission is free to every home Seminole soccer game this fall.
Florida State returns six starters and 12 letterwinners from last year’s squad that advanced to their second straight College Cup and sixth semifinal appearance in the last 10 years, claimed the outright ACC regular season title for the first time in school history and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation.
Entering 2013 expectations are once again high for the Seminoles after landing their highest preseason ranking in school history at No. 3 by the NSCAA and checking in at No. 2 in the preseason ACC poll.
Last year, Florida State completed the season as one of the best defensive teams in the nation ranking in the top 40 in shutout percentage (2nd), goals against average (12th) and save percentage (36th). The Seminoles went on to set school records with 17 shutouts and a GAA of 0.62, while tying the record for the fewest goals allowed with 15. The backline will once again look to cause havoc upon opposing teams in 2013 as Florida State welcomes back goalkeeper Kelsey Wys and Kassey Kallman and Kristin Grubka in the middle of the Seminole defense.
Despite the loss of FSU’s all-time leading scorer in Tiffany McCarty, the Seminoles return three of their top four scorers in Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Grubka and Jamia Fields. Brynjarsdottir, who competed in the 2013 Women’s Euro Championship with Iceland’s Full National Team this past summer, posted single-season career-highs in every offensive category including goals (9), assists (9) and points (27). Grubka finished third on the team with 16 points (5 goals, 6 assists) as a defender, while Fields returns after tallying a career-high eight assists during her sophomore campaign.
Friday’s match marks the season opener and the fourth all-time meeting between Florida State and Oregon State. FSU is unbeaten all-time against the Beavers with both of its wins in the series coming in Corvallis.
The two schools are meeting for the third time to open a season and the second time they have met in a season opener in Tallahassee. In 2011, No. 5 FSU opened the season with a 1-0 victory over No. 19 Oregon State on a goal by Tiffany McCarty in the 52nd minute off an assist from Jessica Price.
Florida State has won five straight season openers outscoring the opposition 17-2. The Seminoles are 7-1-0 on opening day under Mark Krikorian, including 3-0-0 inside the Seminole Soccer Complex. FSU is 4-1-1 all-time in season openers against schools from the Pac-12.
On Sunday, Florida State and Auburn square-off in Tallahassee - the 11th all-time meeting between the two schools and the first since 2010 when the Tigers defeated the Seminoles 3-2 in double overtime in Auburn.
In the last meeting, Auburn scored two second half goals including the equalizer by Jessica Rightmer with 2:46 left in regulation. Katy Frierson registered the golden goal in the 108th minute to give Auburn its first victory over the Seminoles since 1995 snapping FSU’s eight-game win streak.
FSU has not lost to Auburn at home in four all-time meetings, while this is the first match between the two schools in Tallahassee since 2007. Florida State has outscored Auburn 13-3 inside the Seminole Soccer Complex. The two schools met every year for four straight years from 2007-10, while four matches in the series have come during the NCAA Tournament - all resulting in wins for the Seminoles.
