Entering 2016 in desperate search of another championship, UNC women’s soccer was ranked ninth in the preseason poll released Wednesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
If there’s one thing that can be taken from the news, it’s that the Tar Heels should have plenty of reason to be motivated.
Although last year’s 15-5-1 record would be considered a great success anywhere else, this particular program has spent the last three and half decades setting a bar as high as the Empire State Building.
Since the inception of the sport’s NCAA Tournament in 1982, head coach Anson Dorrance has made sure UNC never once had to brave through three consecutive years without winning it all.
During that span, The Tar Heels have won 21 of the sport’s 34 national titles.
The amazing streak came to a screeching halt last year, however, after an upset loss to Texas A&M in the second-round.
Not since 2012’s exhilarating title-game victory over Penn State has UNC been able to do what was once considered as sure as death and taxes.
Defender Hanna Gardner–a redshirt senior who scored the championship-winning goal against Penn State as a freshman–will lead a group that includes six returning starters.
A highly-regarded freshman class also joins a Tar Heel roster that knows the pressure to win is as high as its ever been.
The season kicks off for UNC in just over two weeks, when it hosts UCF on Friday, Aug. 19 as part of the Carolina Nike Classic.
Full Preseason Women’s Soccer Top 25
1. Florida State (2015 Semifinalist)
2. Penn State (2015 National Champion)
3. Duke (2015 Finalist)
4. Virginia
5. Stanford
6. West Virginia
7. Florida
8. Texas A&M
9. North Carolina
10. Rutgers (2015 Semifinalist)
11. Southern California
12. Auburn
13. Notre Dame
14. Clemson
15. Connecticut
16. Brigham Young
17. Virginia Tech
18. California
19. Texas Tech
20. Arizona
21. Santa Clara
22. Mississippi
23. Ohio State
24. South Carolina
25. Loyola Marymount
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