After a vote by the league’s seven head coaches, it was announced Tuesday that the UNC field hockey team is the preseason favorite to win the ACC.

The Tar Heels have reached the NCAA Semifinals in each of the last eight seasons, and appear poised to make another deep tournament run in 2017.

Although five of the conference’s seven teams received at least one first place vote in the preseason poll, UNC claimed the top spot by tallying a total of 31 points.

Duke and Syracuse each garnered a pair of first place votes–which gave each school more first place nods than UNC–but ultimately finished in a tie for second.

Louisville, Virginia, Wake Forest and Boston College rounded out the selections.

All seven ACC teams finished last season ranked nationally, and at least one team from the league has appeared in the NCAA Championship Game in each of the last 18 seasons.

For the full preseason ACC field hockey poll, click here.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

Related Stories
‹
ACC Tabs Ashley Hoffman as Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week
The ACC recognized UNC junior Ashley Hoffman as its Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, following her outstanding contributions to the Tar Heels’ two wins over ranked opponents this past weekend. Despite playing the center back position–which focuses primarily on defense–Hoffman scored the game-winning goal in overtime for UNC against No. 10 […]
UNC Field Hockey Beats UVA, Clinches No. 1 Seed in ACC Tourney
No. 1 UNC field hockey picked up another top-ten win on Friday, using three first-half goals to beat No. 7 Virginia and secure their spot atop the conference standings. Two goals from Carolina’s leading scorer Erin Matson helped extend Carolina’s lead to 3-1, with her second coming from the star senior nabbing the ball away […]
UNC's Heck Snags ACC, National Offensive Player of the Week
UNC field hockey is undefeated so far this 2022 season, but it’s not just on the field where the team is holding a winning streak. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tar Heel freshman Ryleigh Heck earned its Offensive Player of the Week award on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive week a Carolina player has snagged […]
Three-Time Defending Champions UNC Field Hockey Picked To Finish First in ACC
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 […]
Erin Matson Wins Second Consecutive Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey
UNC junior forward Erin Matson earned her second consecutive Honda Sport Award for field hockey on Wednesday, an honor which recognizes the top women’s athletes in the country across 12 different NCAA sports. Matson led the Tar Heels to their third consecutive national championship last month, scoring the overtime game-winner against Michigan in the title […]
UNC Field Hockey Earns Top Overall Seed for NCAA Tournament
The UNC field hockey team once again finds itself in a familiar place, as the Tar Heels were named the top overall seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. This year’s tournament will feature just 12 teams due to the pandemic, which also forced the event to be played […]
Matson Earns Third Straight ACC Field Hockey Player of the Year Award
For the third consecutive season, the ACC selected UNC junior forward Erin Matson as the ACC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year. Announced as the winner on Thursday, Matson led the ACC this season with 56 points, scoring 24 goals and dishing out eight assists. She becomes the just the second field hockey athlete […]
No. 1 UNC Field Hockey Earns OT Road Victory at No. 12 Virginia
Erin Matson scored all three of UNC’s goals on Friday in Charlottesville, including the game-winner in overtime, as the top-ranked Tar Heel field hockey team dispatched No. 12 Virginia 3-2. Each of Matson’s first two goals came during the second quarter, giving UNC (14-1, 4-0 ACC) a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. Virginia (6-11, 1-4 […]
No. 1 UNC Field Hockey Downs No. 15 Duke in Double Overtime on Senior Day
Bryn Boylan scored on a penalty stroke in the second overtime on Friday at Karen Shelton Stadium, giving the top-ranked UNC field hockey team a 4-3 Senior Day victory over the No. 15 Duke Blue Devils. This was the third meeting of the season between the Tar Heels (13-1) and Blue Devils (3-11), and the […]
UNC Field Hockey Blanks Wake Forest for Second Spring Shutout
Erin Matson scored twice on Saturday in Winston-Salem, guiding the UNC field hockey team to a 2-0 victory over Wake Forest. This marks the second consecutive 2-0 win for the Tar Heels (11-1) to begin the spring season, after dispatching Louisville by the same score last weekend. Each of Matson’s goals came within the first […]
›