Hokie Club
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2021 ACC Women's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, released Tuesday by the conference office. The Tar Heels totaled 63 points in voting by the ACC's eight head coaches. UNC was followed by Notre Dame (54), Syracuse (51), Virginia (33), Boston College (29), Duke (28), Virginia Tech (22) and Louisville (8).
The Preseason All-ACC Team features a veteran group of 17 student-athletes. Sixteen are in their senior year of eligibility, with junior Sarah Cooper of Syracuse serving as the lone exception. North Carolina and Notre Dame lead all schools with five All-ACC honorees each, while Syracuse has three and Boston College, Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech each have one. Twelve of the 2021 Preseason All-ACC honorees also were selected to the 2019 All-ACC Women's Lacrosse Team.
Seven ACC women's lacrosse teams are ranked in the Preseason IWLCA poll, with the ACC holding each of the top three spots with No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Syracuse. Boston College (12), Duke (15), Virginia (16) and Virginia Tech (18) also are among the IWLCA's preseason top 20, as the ACC has the most teams in the poll among all conferences.
Twenty-eight ACC players are represented on the Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America Team, including 16 that also are on the Preseason All-ACC Team. The ACC has eight of the 13 honorees on the IL Preseason First-Team All-America Team.
Petty, a preseason Third Team All-American finished the 2020 season with 38 goals, the third-best total in the nation. She was also inside the top 10 in points, registering 43 in a 10-game shortened season due to Covid-19. She was named an Inside Lacrosse All-American at the conclusion of the season and was a Tewaaraton Award Watch List member as well as the VaSID Player of the Year.
For her career, Petty ranks third in Virginia Tech history with 162 goals, fourth with 182 points and is fifth with 185 draw controls.
A two-time First Team All-ACC performer, Petty is the program's most decorated athlete.
2021 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack
Emily Hawryschuk, Gr., Syracuse
Katie Hoeg, Sr., North Carolina
Jamie Ortega, Sr., North Carolina
Midfield
Andie Aldave, Sr., Notre Dame
Paige Petty, Sr., Virginia Tech
Kerrigan Miller, Gr., North Carolina
Defense
Sarah Cooper, Jr., Syracuse
Kathleen Roe, Gr., Notre Dame
Emma Trenchard, Sr., North Carolina
Goalie
Bridget Deehan, Sr., Notre Dame
Taylor Moreno, Sr., North Carolina
At-Large
Savannah Buchanan, Gr., M, Notre Dame
Kerry Defliese, Gr., D, Syracuse
Maddie Howe, Sr., A, Notre Dame
Ashlyn McGovern, Sr., A, Virginia
Charlotte North, Sr., A, Boston College
Gabby Rosenzweig, Gr., A, Duke
The conference office also announced the Preseason Coaches Poll found below.
Tech starts the season on February 12 at Liberty and plays host to tenth-ranked James Madison in the second game of the season on February 17 at Lane Stadium.