The three-time defending national champions are predicted to once again rule the ACC… but it’s not unanimous.

The preseason ACC field hockey coaches polls were released Monday, and Carolina sat atop the conference with six out of seven first place votes. Virginia received the seventh vote. Boston College, Virginia and Wake Forest round out the top four.

In addition, senior forward Erin Matson and senior midfielder Meredith Sholder were selected to the preseason All-ACC team. Matson is the reigning national player of the year, three-time reigning ACC Offensive Player of the Year and will serve as the team captain for the 2021 campaign. The 2020 season saw Sholder earn second team All-ACC and third team All-America honors. You can view the full list of honorees here.

Matson, Sholder and the Tar Heels will begin their title defense Friday against Michigan in Iowa City, IA, a rematch of last spring’s 2021 national championship. Matson scored the title-winning goal in sudden death overtime against the Wolverines.

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