Just a month away from beginning its season-long defense of last year’s national championship run, the UNC women’s lacrosse team will enter the campaign with seven players named Preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse Magazine–more than any other school in the country.
Defender Maggie Auslander–a local product out of Green Hope High School in Cary–earned First Team honors along with goalie Caylee Waters, as well as midfielders Maggie Bill and Marie McCool.
Waters compiled a 12-1 record in goal for the Tar Heels last season with Auslander anchoring the defense in front of her, while McCool tallied 46 goals and 17 assists.
Coming off a redshirt year in 2016, Bill–who was a Second Team All-American in 2015–is hoping to come back stronger than ever.
Attackers Sammy Jo Tracy and Molly Hendrick were each named to the Second Team.
Together, Hendrick (59) and Tracy (42) combined to score 101 goals in 2016–consistently finishing off beautiful plays around the net.
They’ll be expected to provide similar contributions this season for a Tar Heel offense that should be among the nation’s most explosive.
Midfielder Ela Hazar rounded out the selections with a spot on the Honorable Mention Team after a solid all-around season in 2016 that saw her compile 26 goals and 28 assists.
The Tar Heels officially begin their season with a game against James Madison on Saturday, Feb. 4.
For the full list of Preseason All-Americans, click here.
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