FSU Opens Season Ranked No. 4 By NSCAA

8/13/08

The ranking is the highest preseason mark for the Seminoles in the NSCAA Poll.

Tallahassee, Fla. – What do you get when you combine eight returning starters and 13 letterwinners from last year’s squad that played for a national championship and a recruiting class that ranks among the nation’s best? How about the highest preseason ranking in school history. The Florida State soccer team will open the 2008 campaign ranked No. 4 by the NSCAA.



This marks the third straight season and the fourth time in the last five years that the NSCAA has ranked the Seminoles in the top 10 in their preseason poll. In 2006 and 2007, FSU opened the season ranked sixth nationally, while beginning at No. 7 in 2004.



Eight opponents of this year’s schedule are ranked in the preseason top 25 including five schools in the top 15. The ACC led all conferences with six schools ranked in the top 25. The ACC and the Pac-10 each placed three schools in the top 10.



The Seminoles will get their first taste of live action when they square-off against Georgia in a preseason scrimmage at the Seminole Soccer Complex on Friday, August 15 at 2:00 pm. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 18 in the preseason poll. The quest for a fourth straight College Cup appearance begins a week later as the Seminoles play host to the UCF Knights at 7:00 pm in the season opener for both teams.



NSCAA Preseason Top 25

1. Southern California

2. UCLA

3. North Carolina (Away, October 30)

4. Florida State

5. Notre Dame

t-6. Portland

t-6. Virginia (Home, September 25)

8. Texas

9. Penn State (Away, August 29)

10. Stanford

11. Connecticut (Away, August 31)

12. West Virginia

13. Tennessee

14. Boston College (Away, October 5)

15. Texas A&M

16. Duke (Home, October 19)

17. California

18. Georgia (Preseason Home, August 15)

19. Illinois

20. Florida (Home, September 7)

21. Wake Forest (Home, October 16)

22. Santa Clara

23. Oklahoma State

24. Purdue

25. San Diego



BOLD denotes 2008 opponent



Prior NSCAA Preseason Rankings

2002: FSU #17

2003: FSU #15

2004: FSU #7

2005: NR

2006: FSU #6

2007: FSU #6

2008: FSU #4