Florida State sports notebook: Soccer burning questions edition – Tomahawk Nation

The Florida State Seminoles are off To A particular unbelievable start. In final yr’s abbreviated fall season the Noles started 11-0-0 on The biggest Method to the ACC Event Championship. This yr FSU is off to A ten-0-0 start. That makes the Seminoles The one group in Division One soccer (342 groups) And by no implys using a loss or a tie. The Noles are furtherly first Inside the RPI and are On The very Greater of the Coaches Ballot incomes 33 out of 34 first place votes (one voter had Virginia at #1, extra on that later).

Florida State is wanting terribly spectacular proper now however Everyone is Aware of that this program measures success Inside the tournament and not the common season. Subsequently, there stays work to be carried out as An important An factor of the season is but To reflip. Let’s converse about the Seminoles As a Outcome of they proceed on what Might be a historic season in Tallahassee.

These are exact querys posed by exact people Inside the sense That they are exact querys (they finish in A question mark) And that i am An exact particular person (I’ve written All of the querys).

Is Florida State Definitely one of the biggest group Inside the nation?

Wow, you don’t waste any time getting proper to The objective.

FSU certainly appears like Definitely one of the biggest group proper now. Clearly the doc is Definitely one of the biggest Inside the nation As a Outcome of the Noles have but to lose or be tied. The Seminoles Even have wins over two prime 10 groups (On the time) As a Outcome of they beat Texas A&M and Auburn. The Texas A&M win doesn’t look as spectacular proper now at first look As a Outcome of the Aggies At the second are 5-5-1. However, A better look reveals That Every one of TAMU’s 5 losses have been To groups ranked Inside The very biggest 13 nationally. A&M has principally performed a killer schedule. Auburn has held up properly. The Tigers are ranked Thirteenth at 8-2 with The completely different loss being at #17 Tennessee in double further time. The Seminoles haven’t performed a murderer’s row of opponents However They’ve dealt with the schedule The biggest method an elite group ought to.

As famous, one voter had Virginia as The very biggest group Inside the Coaches Ballot. I don’t agree that UVA (10-1-0) Should be ranked over FSU But As quickly as I Desired to make a case for it I might level to The fact thOn the Cavs have wins over #13 West Virginia, #4 Duke and dealt Wake Forest their solely loss. It was furtherly The one objective Wake has conceded all yr. However, the Hoos have a 4-2 loss (in Charlottesville) to a 6-4 Penn State group. In exactity, This will resolve itself later Inside the yr however proper now FSU appears Simply like the extremeer group on paper.

The Noles furtherly Appear to be The extremeer group using The eye look at. UVA barely acquired by NC State Inside their final outing in a recreation the place their coach Steve Swanson said thOn they “Misplaced their method” Inside the second half. We’ll converse extra about this in a minute however FSU exactly appears like Definitely one of the biggest and most gifted group proper now.

Talking of expertise, how loaded Is that this roster exactly?

It is rather Shut to A humiliation of riches. ESPN soccer analyst Angela Hucles likened the group to an ACC All-Star group. The roster is dripping with expertise.

One Method to measure the expertise on the roster is To imagine about the draft standing of the recreationrs. Chris Hfinisherson has just revealed his NWSL Draft participant shortlists the place he evaluates upcoming draft packages and grades The very biggest (draftable) recreationrs in each class. Right now he accomplished with the 2022 draft class. These are recreationrs Who’re seniors proper now. Yesterday he did the 2023 class (Juniors) which we will converse about in a minute. Hfinisherson ranks each participant by place Based mostly on his algorithm. Every participant is given a draft grade After which ranked based on these grades.

In the 2022 class Hfinisherson has Kirsten Pavlisko As a Outcome of the 4th biggest proper again amongst Power 5 schools. He has Emily Madril as The very biggest center again and in his feedagain he says that “Madril has been unexact the previous yr and a half.” He has Jaelin Hoproperly as The very biggest holding midfielder Inside The class and in his feedagain he says that “Hoproperly Should be the #1 general decide from this class (Regardless of place)”. Yujie Zhao is ranked As a Outcome of the sixth biggest attacking midfielder Inside The power 5.

In the 2023 class Jenna Nighswonger is ranked as The very biggest attacking midfielder Inside The power 5. Hfinisherson says, “Nighswonger can play A lot Of numerous roles which is invaluable Inside The professionals.” LeiLanni Nesbeth is ranked As a Outcome of the seventh biggest attacking midfielder Inside The power 5. Heather Payne is listed As a Outcome of the eleventh biggest center again. She hasn’t performed a minute at that place this yr. The very Incontrovertible exactity that she is converseed about In any respect Provided that she changees places so Typically beset off of her versatility converses to her expertise diploma. Cristina Roque was ranked As a Outcome of the third biggest objective keeper Inside the 2024 class for Power 5 schools. The rankings for the 2021 class Shall be launched tomorrow so anticipate to see extra Noles (ex: Gabby Carle, Clara Robbins) converseed about. That’s eight recreationrs acknowledged (So far) and spectacular freshmen like Mia Simplyus, Maria Alagoa, Emma Bissell and Amelia Horton are too youthful to be included.

This roster Is truly stacked however In all probability the most spectacular factor is thOn the group itself Is gooder than the sum of its parts. In completely different phrases, That is often a supremely gifted group with An monumental quantity of chemistry. This group is particular.

Does this imply That you merely assume FSU will go undefeated?

Maybe. How’s that for a definitive reply.

This group hAs a Outcome of the roster for an undefeated run However the ACC is The very biggest convention Inside the nation and FSU finishs the common season Once against three groups presently Inside The very biggest 5 (Virginia, Duke and North Carolina).

I exactly feel that FSU Is biggest than all of these groups proper now however We ought to almethods see how They’re having fun with in late October. Accidents And naturally luck Can furtherly play a huge Think about figuring out the winner of these video recreations.

So are these groups FSU’s hardest rivals proper now?

They are probably the hardest left on the common season schedule. However A pair of groups FSU Does not play Inside the common season deserve level outing. Notre Dame is presently 9-1-1. The Irish probably have their biggest group in yrs. As converseed about beforehand, Wake Forest is 10-1 and has conceded Simply one objective all yr. FSU misses each ND and Wake Inside the common season however Regulate them each as They might be opponents Inside the ACC Event.

When it Includes groups left on the schedule how do they stack up Once against FSU?

FSU’s subsequent 4 video recreations are Once against Clemson, Syracuse, Miami and Virginia Tech. Miami And by no implysably Syracuse are improved over final yr however nboth group is anythe place near FSU’s diploma. It’d take Tons for both to have An exact probability Once against the Seminoles although no recreation is ever assured.

Clemson and Virginia Tech are Inside the second tier of the league. Clemson (7-3) was ranked final week however lost 3-0 to UNC in a recreation the place the Tigers have been merely outclassed. It could have just been A nasty recreation however Clemson didn’t current a lot of somefactor Which might strike fear Inside the hearts of Nole followers. Clemson May even be lacking velocityy winger Courtney Jones Who’s out As a Outcome of of damage. Her absence problems beset off FSU has been weak To hurry on the flanks Prior to now.

No. 19 Virginia Tech is 7-2-2 They often look improved over final yr. The Hokies have A strong win over South Carolina They often have tied UNC and Duke. VT is a group That Can be dangerous if taken flippantly But when FSU performs anythe place near The extent thOn They’ve proven for A lot of the yr They Want to emerge with a win in Blacksburg.

Now we flip to the three marquee groups. No. 5 North Carolina (8-1-1) has a deep roster (37 recreationrs), They’ve a hall of fame coach They often play A method (extreme press) that could set off factors for FSU. The sport May even be performed in Chapel Hill. However, FSU has a extra gifted roster than the Heels and on prime of thOn the Noles are significantly extra expert than UNC. This is a recreation that FSU could lose particularly if the extreme press camakes use of the again line to make errors. We furtherly noticed the Seminoles wrestle Once against the extreme press Inside the second half Once against Auburn. However, that was a change in methods made by Auburn and the Seminoles admitted after the recreation that it took them Abruptly They often had problem adjusting. There Shall be no surprises with UNC. FSU Shall be very ready for the extreme press and That ought to make a distinction.

No. 4 Duke (7-1-1) has made good strides this season. Earlier to this season the Blue Devils have been Usually acknowledged as a stout defensive group that wrestled To understand. This mix led to A lot of ties. This yr the Devils have corrected that problem. Duke has scored 22 goals on the season the placeas conceding solely 5. The Blue Devils Even have spectacular wins over No. 5 UNC, No. 7 Stanford, and No. 8 Arkansas. Duke options a quantity of exactly gifted recreationrs. Everyone is Aware of about Delaney Graham and Sophie Jones however Ruthie Jones is having a breakout season in objective. However, Definitely one of many largest set offs for The event has been the addition of freshman Michelle Cooper to the roster. The forward from IMG has six goals in solely seven video recreations performed And she or he is an absolute terror up prime for the Blue Devils. Cooper missed the final two video recreations (The one video recreations Duke didn’t Gained this season) As a Outcome of of well being and safety protocols (not damage) so she Should be refliping quickly. Cooper could look at the Seminole again line. In the previous Duke coach Robbie Church has challenged FSU with a UNC type extreme press early however hAs a Outcome of then agained off presumably beset off he doesn’t notion his roster depth. We’ll see what technique he makes use of this yr. The sport Shall be in Durham however As prolonged as FSU Is comparatively healthful going into the recreation the Noles will probably be strong favorites.

FSU closes out the common season Once against No. 2 Virginia (10-1-0) in Tallahassee. Virginia hAs a Outcome of the second most gifted starting lineup Inside the ACC behind Florida State. Sadly for the Cavs that lineup took An monumental hit when winger Rebecca Jarrett went down in apply with a knee damage. She is lost for the season and Which will be An exact disgrace for a group that has wrestled with injuries the previous few yrs. Jarrett is a participant who has given FSU matches Prior to now Collectively with her velocity on the flanks. She Shall be missed On this recreation. However, UVA has a ton of completely different gifted recreationrs. Alexa Spaanstra, Samar Guidry, Claire Fixed, Taryn Torres, and so on. are all In a place to inflicting problem for Florida State (or anyone else). However, Lia Godfrey and Diana Orcarried outz deserve particular level out. Godfrey is a sophoextra who Chris Hfinisherson calls a future #1 general draft decide. Orcarried outz is a 5’11 junior who Is in a place to beasting FSU on set-gadgets particularly corners. UVA beat FSU the final time The two groups met in Tallahassee and the Hoos are In a place to doing it Once again. However, FSU is deeper and The scarcity of Jarrett Shall be felt. I’m Not sure that Virginia Is analogous group with out her.

Button this up for us. Everyone Desires to know whether or not the Seminoles will earn the Nationwide Championship thOn They solely missed out on earlier this yr (technically final yr). How is it Looking for them?

They are undoubtedly on monitor. Clearly it doesn’t Recover than 10-0-0 However the play on The sector has been prime notch as properly. They appear like Definitely one of the biggest group Based mostly on The eye look at. Florida State just appears completely different from completely different groups. Half of That is the possession type and precision passing That are An indicator of all FSU groups beneath Mark Krikorian however this group May even be blessed with eight seniors or redshirt seniors. I exactly feel Which have will make An limitless distinction.

The season proceeds on Friday at Clemson. Kickoff is at 7pm and the recreation Shall be broadcast on ACC Community Extra.