TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Are you ready for some soccer? The Florida State soccer team kick-started the 2013 campaign Wednesday morning at the Seminole Soccer Complex with the first official practice of the season.
Coming off a second straight trip to the College Cup and a first place regular season finish in the always competitive Atlantic Coast Conference, Florida State will once again enter the 2013 campaign with high expectations. The Seminoles, under the direction of Mark Krikorian in his ninth season at FSU, return 12 letterwinners and six starters from last year’s squad that finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation.
Entering its 19th season as a varsity sport in 2013, the Florida State soccer program has proven to be national contender on an annual basis with 13 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament including a run of eight straight quarterfinal appearances which stands as the longest active streak in the nation. With all the success, Florida State continues to be a premier destination for many of the best women’s soccer players in the United States and throughout the world.
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 led Iceland to its first ever quarterfinal appearance in the Women’s Euro Championship this past summer, posted single-season career-highs in every offensive category last year with the Seminoles 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 as the team’s leader in assists tallying a career-high eight during her sophomore campaign.
Seminole fans will have a great chance to catch the Florida State soccer team in action this fall with 12 regular season matches scheduled inside the Seminole Soccer Complex. FSU opens the season at home on Friday, August 23 at 7:00 p.m. against Oregon State. The Seminoles will also host defending national champion North Carolina (Wed., Sept. 18) while closing out the regular season with a home contest against new league member Notre Dame (Thurs., Oct. 31). Florida State finished with a perfect 14-0-0 record at home last year and will put its 18-match home win streak on the line when they open against the Beavers on August 23.
