Edwards, Talonen Garner Preseason All-American Accolades

Florida State opens the 2008 season on Sunday at 1:00 pm against UCF.

8/22/08

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With the 2008 season opener just two days away, the preseason accolades continue to pour in for the Florida State soccer team. Becky Edwards and Sanna Talonen were named Preseason All-Americans as announced by Soccer America on Friday, August 22. Edwards was named a first team defender, while Talonen garnered second team honors at the forward position.



The All-America honor comes just days after Edwards was named to the watch list of the MAC Hermann Trophy, presented to the nation’s top collegiate player on both the women’s and men’s side. Edwards is back for her third season at Florida State. She has started in 33 consecutive games and 52 in her career and was one of six Seminoles to play in all 27 games in 2007. The junior from Downingtown, Pa., has played an integral role in the success of the Seminole defense over the last two years helping FSU post a combined 26 shutouts and a 0.80 goals against average. Last year, Edwards received fourth team All-America and first team Academic All-District accolades.



Talonen, the 2007 Soccer America Freshman of the Year, is the top returning scorer for the Seminoles in 2008 as she ranked second on the team with 42 points on 18 goals and six assists a season ago. The Tampere, Finland native had one of the finest freshman campaigns in school history leading the team and the ACC with six game-winning goals including three in the NCAA Tournament. She finished the year in the top 10 in the ACC in points per game (2nd), goals per game (3rd) and shots per game (10th). Talonen went on to set freshman school record for shots, points, goals and game-winning goals while finishing the year tied for third with three game-winning assists.



The Seminoles will open the 2008 season on Sunday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. against the UCF Knights at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The game was originally scheduled for Friday but was moved to Sunday due to the threat of heavy rain and wind expected to hit the Tallahassee area as a result of Tropical Storm Fay. Admission to all matches is free.