Seminoles Top Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

Florida State’s soccer program begins the 2016 season in about two weeks and the Seminoles will start the year with a rather large bulls eye on their chests.

FSU will begin the season ranked first in the NSCAA poll, which was released Wednesday, for a second straight year. The Seminoles are coming off an 18-3-4 campaign in 2015 that culminated in their fifth straight College Cup appearance.

FSU returns leading scorer Megan Connolly and Kirsten Crowley, who were each named to the preseason Hermann Trophy watch list, which goes to the nation’s best player. Goalkeeper Cassie Miller also returns for FSU.

The Seminoles were one of seven ACC teams ranked in the preseason poll. Duke, who ousted FSU in the College Cup last season, is ranked third, followed by Virginia at No. 4. North Carolina sneaked into the top 10 at No. 9 while Notre Dame, Clemson and Virginia Tech were ranked 13th, 14th and 17th, respectively.

The Seminoles will open the year on Aug. 19 at No. 8 Texas A&M.