Florida State ranks No. 1 in the 2021 United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25 poll after falling just short of winning the title last season. The Seminoles' lineup is headlined by Jaelin Howell, last season's Hermann Trophy winner.
Santa Clara, which took down Florida State in the championship game on penalty kicks, opens the season at No. 2. The Broncos did, however, garner more first-place votes than No. 1 Florida State, with 18 compared to the Seminoles' 11.
|
Rank |
SCHOOL |
POINTS |
PREV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State (11) | 794 | 2 |
| 2 | Santa Clara (18) | 788 | 1 |
| 3 | North Carolina (3) | 763 | 3 |
| 4 | Virginia (1) | 723 | 4 |
| 5 | UCLA | 672 | 9 |
| 6 | Duke | 628 | 7 |
| 7 | Clemson | 608 | 6 |
| 8 | TCU | 587 | 5 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | 539 | 8 |
| 10 | Penn State | 500 | 11 |
| 11 | Georgetown | 452 | 10 |
| 12 | West Virginia | 435 | 13 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 412 | 12 |
| 14 | Southern California | 365 | 18 |
| 15 | BYU | 353 | 17 |
| 16 | Oklahoma State | 307 | 14 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 298 | 22 |
| 18 | Vanderbilt | 258 | 21 |
| 19 | Washington | 253 | 15 |
| 20 | USF | 216 | 19 |
| 21 | Saint Louis | 175 | 20 |
| 22 | Rice | 150 | 16 |
| 23 | Mississippi | 123 | 23 |
| 24 | Stanford | 73 | NR |
| 25 | Rutgers | 58 | 24 |
UCLA also brings back Reilyn Turner, who won Pac-12 Freshman of the Year last season. Goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy won Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year last season.
An interesting point to note: Santa Clara was in the "also receiving votes" section of last year's first poll before going 10-1-1 and winning the national title. The Broncos open their 2021 season against San Jose State on Thursday, Aug. 19. Top-ranked Florida State also begins its season that day, when No. 9 Texas A&M visits.
