GREENSBORO – All but one of the ACC’s women’s soccer coaches say defending National Champion, North Carolina, will win the ACC crown this season.

Twenty-three points behind the Tar Heels are the returning regular season champions, the Florida State Seminoles, with one first-place vote.

UNC finished the regular season tied for second last year at 6-3. Virginia took down Carolina in the Tar Heels’ ACC tournament opener, 1-0; UVA went on to win the ACC title against FSU, 4-0.

But the National Championship was all Carolina, including a dominant 4-1 win as a No. 2 seed against No. 1 seed PennState in the title game.

The Tar Heels return eight starters from last season, including MAC Hermann Trophy winner, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and Mary Garber Award recipient, senior Crystal Dunn and NCAA Women’s College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Players Kealia Ohai and Satara Murray.

Carolina is in Shallotte, NC Tuesday for a scrimmage against Wofford College. The season officially kicks off against Santa Clara in Charlottesville, Virginia for the Klockner Classic next Friday, August 23. The first home game is Friday, August 30 against New Mexico in the Carolina Nike Classic.

 

2013 ACC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. North Carolina (194 points, 13 first place votes)
2. Florida State (171, 1 first place vote)
3. Virginia (161)
4. Duke (153)
5. Notre Dame (143)
6. Wake Forest (140)
7. Maryland (110)
8. Boston College (102)
9. Virginia Tech (85)
T10. Clemson (56)
T10. Miami (56)
12. Syracuse (45)
13. NC State (36)
14. Pittsburgh  (18)