FSU Soccer Announces 2008 Schedule

Florida State to open the season at home vs. UCF on August 22.

6/19/08

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida State women’s soccer program has ranked among the nation’s best over the last three seasons with back-to-back-to-back trips to the College Cup and the team’s first appearance in the national championship game in 2007.



Since the arrival of head coach Mark Krikorian in 2005, the Seminoles have posted a combined record of 56-14-8 and have finished no lower than second place in the ACC. Heading into the 2008 season, the expectations once again remain high as Krikorian and the Seminoles look to make a return trip to the College Cup in Cary, N.C. and a second straight berth in the national title game.



The quest for the school’s first national championship begins on Friday, August 22 inside the Seminole Soccer Complex as Florida State opens the 2008 campaign against the UCF Knights. It is the first of nine home games on this year’s docket which include five matches against ACC opponents.



Twelve teams on this year’s schedule recorded 10 or more wins a season ago. Thirteen schools earned a bid to participate in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, while six of those teams played into the third round of the tournament. The first three matches and six of the first seven will feature teams that participated in postseason play.



“We are really excited about this year’s schedule,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “We have a collection of teams that historically play in the NCAA Tournament year after year which I feel will certainly present a challenge for us. We look forward to playing the best teams in the country and I feel that this year’s schedule certainly presents that situation. We have some true road tests early in the year which I hope will prepare our team for the stretch run late in the year.”



Following the season opener against UCF, the Seminoles will travel to State College for a pair of matches against Penn State and Connecticut. Florida State has faced the Nittany Lions just once before while the Seminoles and Huskies will battle for the fourth time in series history. FSU defeated Connecticut in the quarterfinals of last year’s tournament erasing a one-goal deficit late in the second half and then scoring the game-winner in overtime to advance to its third straight College Cup.



Three Southeastern Conference schools are featured on this year’s schedule including Florida, Auburn and South Carolina. The Seminoles will host the Gators on Sunday, September 7, while the Garnet and Gold will travel to Auburn to face the Tigers and the Gamecocks at the Auburn Tournament, September 12 and 14, respectively.



Other non-conference home opponents include Florida International and Florida Gulf Coast.



FSU will once again close out the season with 10 straight ACC matches leading up to the ACC Tournament beginning November 5 in Cary, N.C. at the SAS Soccer Complex. The Seminoles open conference play at home against Virginia on Thursday, September 25. FSU will also host Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Duke and Clemson. Road tests for the Seminoles in league play include matches at Maryland, Boston College, Miami and North Carolina and the regular season finale at NC State.





2008 Florida State Soccer Schedule

Friday, August 22 – UCF, 7:00 pm

Friday, August 29 – at Penn State, TBA (Penn State Tournament)

Sunday, August 31 – vs. Connecticut, TBA (Penn State Tournament)

Friday, September 5 – Florida International, 7:00 pm

Sunday, September 7 – Florida, 1:00 pm

Friday, September 12 – at Auburn, TBA (Auburn Tournament)

Sunday, September 14 – vs. South Carolina, TBA (Auburn Tournament)

Sunday, September 21 – Florida Gulf Coast, TBA

Thursday, September 25 – Virginia, 7:00 pm

Sunday, September 28 – Virginia Tech, 1:00 pm

Thursday, October 2 – at Maryland, 7:00 pm

Sunday, October 5 – at Boston College, 1:00 pm

Sunday, October 12 – at Miami, TBA

Thursday, October 16 – Wake Forest, 7:00 pm

Sunday, October 19 – Duke, 1:00 pm

Thursday, October 23 – Clemson, 7:00 pm

Thursday, October 30 – at North Carolina, TBA

Sunday, November 2 – at NC State, TBA

Wednesday – Sunday, November 5-9, 2008 – ACC Tournament

(Cary, N.C. – SAS Soccer Complex)

**All Match Times are EST** (Bold denotes home match)