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Seminoles Beat: 'Mams' Is Getting Her Points Across

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By Scott Carter, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - To communicate with her teammates and coaches during her first season at Florida State, Mami Yamaguchi often wrote notes because of her broken English. Two years later, the junior midfielder who teammates call 'Mams' has no trouble making her points.

Yamaguchi leads all Division I soccer players in goals (16) and scoring (38 points), providing the Noles with one of the nation's most dangerous players in their bid to return to the College Cup for the third consecutive season.

'We knew she was a big, attacking presence and outstanding player,' FSU coach Mark Krikorian said. 'The role we have asked her to take on this year is significantly differently. She is kind of our go-to player. She has beautiful technique and is very clever with the ball.

'She has all the qualities you look for in an attacking player.'

Krikorian first witnessed those qualities during a game between the under-19 national teams of Japan and the U.S. three years ago in Los Angeles. Krikorian was the U.S. coach, and Yamaguchi played for the victorious Japanese team that day.

Yamaguchi grew up in Tokyo and decided when she was 16 that she wanted to come to America and play college soccer. She contacted several top programs - finding FSU during an online search - and even attended a camp run by former FSU coach Patrick Baker. When Krikorian replaced Baker prior to the 2005 season, he sent Yamaguchi and e-mail stating the school remained interested.

Fortunately for the Noles, Yamaguchi ended up in Tallahassee and has been a mainstay in the lineup since her freshman season.

Despite her success, Yamaguchi realized that as FSU's returning leading scorer (16 points - six goals/four assists), she would be expected to produce at a higher rate this season. So, in the spring and summer, Yamaguchi spent countless hours doing something she had never done: lifting weights and doing agility drills to help build her speed and quickness.

'I gained so much confidence,' she said. 'I knew my weakness. I really wanted to improve.'

She has thrived off the added responsibility, and in Sunday's 1-0 victory over then-No. 4 Boston College, Yamaguchi scored her latest game-winning goal when she drilled a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.

A few weeks ago during practice, Yamaguchi missed a penalty kick. But her renewed confidence kicked any thoughts of missing Sunday's kick out of her head.

'I have this feeling that I've got to do it, that I've got to score,' she said. 'I told myself I can score.'

She certainly has the points to prove that.

QUICK LEARNER: Former FSU basketball star Al Thornton, the 14th overall pick in this year's NBA draft, averaged 17 points and eight rebounds and shot 49 percent in his first three exhibition games for the Los Angeles Clippers. Thornton, who is being counted on this season to help fill the void of injured starter Elton Brand, is drawing rave reviews from his teammates.

'He knows how to get his shot off,' Clippers guard Sam Cassell, another FSU product, said in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times. 'That's the most impressive thing - that he's making a lot of tough shots.'

NOLE NUGGETS: Led by sophomore All-American Susan Kuijken's victory in the 6k at the NCAA Pre-Nationals last weekend in Terre Haute, Ind., FSU's women's cross country team moved up to No. 3 in the country, the highest ranking in the program's history with the ACC meet two weeks away. ... The women's basketball team, fresh off its first trip to the Sweet 16, is ranked in all the preseason magazines, with Lindy's No. 16 ranking the Noles' best. FSU opens practice Friday.

FSU SHORTS

HONOR ROLL: Junior swimmer Scott Baker, a transfer from Indian River Community College, won nine events at a four-team meet at Georgia Tech last weekend, earning ACC Performer of the Week honors Tuesday.

SOUNDBITE CENTRAL: "That whole saying about what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, I hope my game travels." - Former FSU golfer George McNeil, after winning the Frys.com Open in Las Vegas on Sunday, his first PGA Tour victory.

LOOK OUT FOR: The No. 15-ranked women's soccer team hosts Miami on Sunday in its final regular-season match of the season. The game will be shown live on Sun Sports at 1 p.m.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Which football program - FSU or Miami - do you think is closer to being back near the top of the rankings? To vote or monitor results, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Noles.

BLOG BONUS: The FSU-Miami series was once considered the nation's best rivalry, but for the first time since 1977, the schools will play each other Saturday with neither team ranked. We take a look at other hard-to-believe facts in college football today. For more, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Noles.

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