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Soccer capsules

By BRIAN LANDMAN, ANTONYA ENGLISH and PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 31, 2001

Florida State -- Women

2000: 14-8-2, 2-4-1 ACC (seventh in conference, reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time and advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins against Jacksonville and Florida).

COACH: Patrick Baker (23-18-1, third season; 110-76-12, 12th season overall).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Marte Vik Edvardsen, Sr., M (5 goals, 4 assists); Maren Vik Edvardsen, Sr., M/F (5 goals, 4 assists); Cindy Schofield, Jr., F (5 goals, 7 assists); Summer Corum, So., M (4 goals, 5 assists); Amber Tollefson, So., M (3 goals, 2 assists); Kristin Boyce, So., D (2 goals, 1 assists); Ashlee Fontes, Jr., D (24 starts); Heather Dyche, Sr., D (1 goal).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Kerry York, Fr., GK (Severna Park High, Millersville, Md.); Katie Beal, Fr., D (West Potomac High, Alexandra, Va.); Jez Ratliff, Fr., F (Norman High, Norman, Okla.); Camie Bybee, Fr., M (Putnam City North High, Oklahoma City); Ali Mims, Fr., GK (Nease High, Ponte Vedra Beach).

NOTES: The FSU program continues to collect firsts. It's No. 12 in Soccer America's preseason poll, No. 13 in SoccerBuzz magazine and No. 16 in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll. FSU never had been ranked in the preseason but had a breakthrough 2000 that included wins against North Carolina and Florida (twice) before losing to Clemson in the NCAA Tournament. FSU lost four starters, most notably All-America F Emma Breland (12 goals, 5 game-winners, 7 assists) and GK Sarah Crawford (1.23 GAA, played every minute). Breland, a sophomore, left school to return home to Sweden after the sudden death of her father. Her speed drew the attention of defenders and opened the field for teammates. Keep an eye on sophomore Janet Burke, one of last year's prospects who didn't start a game and didn't score a goal. Ratliff, who has good speed, also could get a shot. In goal, York needs to live up to her resume. ... FSU faces a daunting schedule that includes national champion North Carolina, Portland (Final Four), Santa Clara and Clemson (both Elite Eight), Florida and four other NCAA Tournament teams. Most of those games are on the road.

Florida -- Women

2000: 16-8, 9-0 SEC (won fifth consecutive conference tournament title; upset by Florida State in second round of NCAA tournament).

COACH: Becky Burleigh (119-21-3, seventh season; 201-44-9, 12th season overall).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Abby Wambach, Sr., F (23 goals, 54 points, 2.57 ppg); Andi Sellers, Sr., F/MF (20 goals, 10 assists); Keisha Bell, Sr., D (All-SEC first-team selection, averaged 69 mpg.); Danielle Murphy, Jr., MF/D (84.2 mpg; three assists); Jordan Kellgren, Jr., GK (1.644 GAA, four solo shutouts).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Christine Johnson, F, MF (Irvine, Calif.); Monica Hoyles, F, (Cincinnati, Ohio).

NOTES: Florida returns three All-Americans -- Bell, Sellers and Wambach -- and five All-SEC team members. Wambach, the 2000 SEC Player of the Year and a preseason All-America selection, led the Gators in goals scored and was fourth in the nation in points per game (2.57) and sixth in goals per game (1.10) last season. ... Stephanie Freeman, a freshman from Clearwater, is out three to eight weeks with a dislocated right kneecap. ... Johnson and Hoyles were high school All-Americans in their senior seasons. ... The Gators are ranked No. 18 in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll. ... The team traveled Aug. 13-21 to England and the Netherlands for a preseason tour, going 4-1, losing only to an English boys team. Florida will play six ranked teams, including No. 15 Stanford on Sunday. The Gators host Utah at 6 today at Percy Beard Stadium.

South Florida -- Women

2000: 6-9-1; 4-6-1 C-USA.

COACH: Logan Fleck (59-38-6 sixth season, 73-48-7 eighth season overall).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Jamie Anderson, Jr., D; Valerie Wetzel, Jr., GK (started all 16 games, 2.00 GAA); Danielle Aldrich, So., F (six goals); Aleia Long, Jr., M/F (team-high seven assists); Erin Sharpe, Jr., MF (started every game); Michelle Upham, Jr., D; Kristin Scotland, Jr., D; Amy Wallsmith, Jr., MF (four goals).

NOTES: After going 11-8 in 1999, including 7-4 in C-USA, USF slipped under .500 last season. The biggest key will be overcoming the loss of all-everything forward Siri Nordy, who had 25 goals the past two seasons, and senior midfielder Tia Opliger, redshirted Tuesday with foot problems. Aldrich should improve her productivity after starting about half of last season. The return of junior defender Anderson will help overcome the graduation of defender Brooke Beck. Anderson missed almost all of last season with her second torn ACL.

South Florida -- Men

2000: 10-9, 3-5 C-USA. .

COACH: John Hackworth (32-25-2, fourth season).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Jason Cudjoe, Sr., F (3 goals, 3 assists, 9 points); Matt Cavanaugh, Sr., F; Simba Harris, So., F; Jeff Thwaites, Jr., MF (3 goals, 9 assists, 15 points); Gabriel Salgado, Jr., MF; Ben Cowherd, Jr., MF; Casey Stump, Jr., D; Joe Valencia, Sr., D; Aaron Ortega, So., D; Brian Mullins, Jr. D; Troy Perkins, So., GK, (1.96 GAA).

KEY NEWCOMERS: C.D. Harris, Fr., MF (Gulf Breeze); Kevin Cowan, Jr., MF (Mount Olive/Miami Edison); J.P. Pagano, Fr., MF (Naples Barron Collier); Justin Norton, Fr., MF (Jupiter).

NOTES: After winning nine of 12 games over the final two-thirds of the season, 2000 ended on a downer with a 4-3 loss to powerful Saint Louis in the regular-season finale, preventing the Bulls from qualifying for the conference tournament. The rebound from the 1-5 start has everyone optimistic about this season. Forward Greg Krauss, who spearheaded the turnaround, has graduated and will be missed. Cudjoe, Cavanaugh and Simba Harris are among those expected to pick up the slack. Stump should be one of the conference's top defenders. Thwaites, Cowherd and Salgado provide a veteran presence at midfield. Mullins has started 26 games but missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL. His return should provide a big boost on the back line. Norton arrives with hefty credentials and should play a significant role.

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