FLORENCE, S.C. – For the first time in its brief NCAA Division I existence, the Francis Marion University women’s soccer team will battle a nationally ranked opponent when the Patriots take on ninth-ranked Florida State University on Friday evening (Sept. 7) in Tallahassee.

The match will kick-off at 7 p.m. at the 1,500-seat Seminole Soccer Complex. The game will be available for a fee on ACC Select at http://fsu.playonsports.tv/

Francis Marion owns a 1-0-1 record this season and possesses one of the longest unbeaten streaks in the nation at eight matches dating back to an Oct. 7, 2006 loss at Longwood University. Florida State (1-1-0) opened its season with a 2-1 overtime loss at fourth-ranked University of Portland, and then defeated Cal State Northridge 6-1.

FSU is ranked ninth in both the NSCAA/adidas Top 25 and the Soccer Buzz Top 30 polls.

The Seminoles returned 14 letterwinners, including six starters, from last year’s 18-4-4 squad that reached the College Cup national semifinals.

Sophomore forward Kirby Stenard, who tallied 14 goals and four assists as a freshman in 2006, leads FMU this season with two goals and one assist.

Junior midfielder Mami Yamaguchi leads FSU with three goals and two assists through the opening two matches. She is the Seminoles’ top returning scorer from last season, when she recorded six goals and four assists.

Dating back to early in the 2006 campaign, two of FMU’s last three losses have been to Clemson and South Carolina.