2009 Florida College Soccer Season Outlook
Our Top Five Picks for the
2009 Season
August 17, 2009
1. Florida State,
although a fairly young team, should be the class of the state again this
year. But to achieve their preseason rank of #6 by NSCAA they are going to
have to find some more offense from their young players.
Key Games: Thurs Oct. 22 North Carolina at home, Fri Oct. 30 at Virginia.
Players to watch:
Tiffany McCarty,
Toni Pressley,
Ella
Stephan,
and from the Mac Herman watch list,
Becky Edwards
and
Amanda DaCosta
Freshmen to watch:
Breezy Hupp
Our Expectations:
To finish 4th in the ACC Conference behind North Carolina, BC,
and Virginia, and to make at least the sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
2. Central Florida
will press FSU for the top team in Florida. A year after making it to the
second round of the NCAA Tournament UCF is poised to have its best season
ever.
Key Games: 09/10/09 Florida State at home, 09/27/09 vs. Memphis
Players to watch:
Yvonne George,
Becca Thomas,
Nikki Moore,
junior college transfer Kim
Newsome
and from the Mac Herman watch list
Aline Reis
Freshmen to watch:
Nicolette Radovcic,
Tiia Tikkanen
Our Expectations:
To finish first in Conference USA and make it to at least the 2nd
round of the NCAA Tournament.
3. Florida Gators
had a very young team last year that pulled together and made it to the
third round of the NCAA Tournament. Also should be in the running for the
best team in Florida. The University of Florida soccer team is No. 10 on
the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll.
Key Games:
Fri Sep 18 Florida State at home, Thu Oct 22 LSU at home
Players to watch:
Lindsay Thompson,
Caitlin Howard,
Ashlee Elliott
Freshmen to watch:
Brooke Thigpen,
Erika Tymrak
Our Expectations:
To win the SEC and make it to at least the 3rd round of the
NCAA Tournament.
4. Miami
had a great start to the season going 7 -0 before their leading goal
scorer Brittney Steinbruch went down with an injury. The key to their
success this year will again lay at the feet of Steinbruch.
Key Games:
10/04/09 at Florida State, 10/25/09 vs. North Carolina at home
Players to watch:
Brittney Steinbruch,
Lauren Singer,
Brittney Macdonald
Freshmen to watch:
Kate Howarth
Our Expectations:
To finish 5th in the ACC Conference behind North Carolina, BC,
Virginia, and FSU, and to make it to at least the first round of the NCAA
Tournament.
5. South Florida
had big expectations going into last season, but those expectations were
soon dashed with the loss of Lindsay Brauer, their biggest scoring threat
the two previous seasons, to a possibly life threatening heart condition
and with last season's leading scorer Chelsea Klotz being hampered all
season with shin splints. This season Klotz is 100% and with the insertion
of a new formation and style of play the Bulls again have high
expectations this season.
Key Games:
Thu, Sep 17 at Marquette, Sun, Oct 11 Connecticut at home
Players to watch:
Klotz, Chelsea,
Sansar, Bahar,
Lofton-Malachi, Mallori,
Pacheco, Gina
Freshmen to watch:
Patterson, Taylor,
Eagle, Alexandra "Boo"
Our Expectations:
To finish 3rd in the American Division of the Big East
Conference behind West Virginia and Marquette, and to make the NCAA
Tournament.
