Confidence is still high in the UNC field hockey team, no matter who’s patrolling the sidelines.

The Tar Heels will begin year one of head coach Erin Matson’s tenure as favorites to win the ACC once again. Carolina was picked first in the preseason league poll released on Monday, receiving four of seven first-place votes. Virginia received the other three and ranks second in the poll.

No. 3 Syracuse, No. 4 Louisville, No. 5 Boston College, No. 6 Wake Forest and No. 7 Duke make up the rest of the rankings. UNC has won the last six ACC championships.

Carolina is also ranked No. 1 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, which was released on Tuesday. The Tar Heels received 29 first-place votes, good enough to beat out No. 2 Northwestern (13 first-place votes). Maryland, Michigan and Penn State make up the rest of the Top 5. For the full NFHCA poll, click here.

In addition, sophomore forward Ryleigh Heck and sophomore midfielder Sietske Brüning were both named to the preseason All-ACC team. Heck was named ACC Freshman of the Year and a first team All-ACC honoree in 2022. Brüning was named second team All-ACC as a freshman. Both started every game in UNC’s undefeated season.

Carolina’s 2023 season will get underway on August 25 at 8:30, when the Tar Heels host Michigan at Karen Shelton Stadium as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

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