The defending national champion UNC field hockey team is ranked No. 2 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s preseason poll. Carolina sits behind only No. 1 Northwestern, which fell in penalty strokes to the Tar Heels in last season’s national championship game.

The Wildcats received 27 of a possible 48 first-place votes. Carolina received 17, while No. 3 Virginia and No. 4 Maryland each received two. Along with Virginia and UNC, No. 5 Duke, No. 7 Louisville, No. 10 Syracuse, No. 17 Boston College and No. 18 Wake Forest represent the ACC in the rankings. For a full look at the NFHCA poll, click here.

Carolina was also picked second in the ACC’s preseason poll, one point shy of first-place Virginia. Three Tar Heels earned preseason All-ACC honors: Katie Dixon, Sietske Brüning and reigning National Player of the Year Ryleigh Heck.

UNC will open the season against two teams featured in the rankings, facing No. 12 Michigan on Friday and No. 6 Iowa on Sunday in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in Ann Arbor, MI. The game against the Wolverines is scheduled for 6 p.m., while the game against the Hawkeyes is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Field Hockey on Twitter

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