Tar Heels women’s lacrosse picked first in ACC preseason poll

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The defending NCAA-champion North Carolina Tar Heels women’s lacrosse team was selected as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll as announced on Tuesday.

North Carolina head coach Jenny Levy’s team received four first-place votes and 60 points in the balloting among the ACC’s eight head coaches.

The reigning ACC champion and NCAA runner-up Maryland Terrapins were selected second with two first- place votes and 54 points, while ACC newcomer and NCAA Final Four participant the Syracuse Orange followed close behind with two first-place votes and 53 points for third.

Duke (34) was picked to finish fourth, Virginia (29) fifth, Notre Dame (27) sixth, Boston College (23) seventh and Virginia Tech (8) eighth.

The top three of the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll mirrors that of the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s poll as North Carolina enters the season as the nation’s No. 1 team, Maryland No. 2 and Syracuse No. 3, while Duke is ranked No. 6, Virginia No. 8, Notre Dame No. 11 and Boston College No. 20. Virginia Tech is receiving votes in the IWLCA’s Preseason Top 20 poll.

The Preseason All-ACC Team features six returning First Team All-Americans as selected by the IWLCA, and 11 returning All-America selections overall.

Seven of the eight ACC institutions were recognized on the Preseason All-ACC Team, led by Maryland with three selections. North Carolina, Syracuse, Boston College and Duke each had two student-athletes named to the team, while Notre Dame and Virginia each had one student-athlete tabbed.

The 2014 NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse season gets under way beginning Friday.

Looking ahead, the ACC Women’s Lacrosse Championship will be played Apr. 24, 25 & 27 at Alumni Stadium on the campus of Boston College.

ACC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll

1.       North Carolina (4 1st place, 60 points)

2.       Maryland (2 1st place, 54 points)

3.       Syracuse (2 1st place, 53 points)

4.       Duke (34)

5.       Virginia (29)

6.       Norte Dame (27)

7.       Boston College (23)

8.       Virginia Tech (8)

Preseason All-ACC Team

Attack

Abbey Friend, A North Carolina

Brooke Griffin, A, Maryland

Kayla Treanor, A, Syracuse

Midfield

Taylor Cummings, M, Maryland

Kelly McPartland, M, Maryland

Mikaela Rix, M, Boston College

Defense

Sloane Serpe, D, North Carolina

Barbara Sullivan, D, Notre Dame

Taylor Virden, D, Duke

At-Large

Casey Bocklet, A, Virginia

Alyssa Murray, A, Syracuse

Covie Stanwick, A, Boston College

Goalkeeper

Kelsey Duryea, GK, Duke

*Due to a tie in voting, an extra member was added to the team