Talonen named Freshman of the Year

• by Soccer America , Dec 20, 2007

Sanna Talonen entered Florida State this fall as the most accomplished European import into the college game since fellow Finn Anne Makinen, who starred at Notre Dame.

The 23-year-old Talonen, a member of Finland's senior national team, sent Florida State to the Women's College Cup for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time in five years with a hat trick in the Seminoles' 3-2 win over Connecticut in the quarterfinals and scored one goal and assisted on fellow freshman Amada DaCosta's winning goal in the Seminoles' 3-2 win over Notre Dame in the semifinals to finish with 18 goals and six assists for 42 points.

Talonen, the 2007 Soccer America Women's Coach of the Year, was a late addition to Mark Krikorian's '07 recruiting class. She has earned 34 caps and scored nine goals for Finland. The highlight of her career so far came in 2005 when she made two appearances for Finland at the European Women's Championship in England.

The same year she led the Finnish First Division in scoring with 28 goals in 18 games for FC Honka. Last summer, she played for Balinge in Sweden's Damallsvenskan alongside Makinen.