University of North Carolina Athletics
Ashley Hoffman (left) and Eva van't Hoog (center) were picked for the preseason All-ACC team.
August 22, 2017 | Field Hockey
GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina received 31 points and is the preseason favorite to claim the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship, according to a vote of the league's seven head coaches.
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Duke and Syracuse were picked second with 27 points apiece, ahead of Louisville (22), Virginia (21), Wake Forest (12), and Boston College (7).Â
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"The ACC is anybody's race this year," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Top to bottom, it's an outstanding year for our conference and probably the best parity we've ever had. I think it's the strongest the league has ever been."
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The Tar Heels, who have reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship each of the past eight years, were one of five different teams to receive a vote for first place in the conference, joined by Duke, Syracuse, Louisville, and Virginia.
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Juniors Ashley Hoffman and Eva van't Hoog represented UNC on the preseason All-ACC Team.
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UNC opens the 2017 season on Saturday, taking on Michigan in Iowa City, Iowa, at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Tar Heels face the host Hawkeyes on Sunday.
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"We're excited to kick the season off," Shelton said. "Preseason is always kind of grueling so it's nice to play somebody else. The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is an outstanding event and we love starting the season that way. We're really looking forward to the weekend."
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2017 ACC Field Hockey Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina (1) - 31
2. Duke (2) - 27
2. Syracuse (2) - 27
4. Louisville (1) - 22
5. Virginia (1) - 21
6. Wake Forest - 12
7. Boston College - 7
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2017 Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey Team
Frederique Haverhals, Jr., B/M, Boston College
Alyssa Chillano, Sr., B, Duke
Ayeisha McFerran, Jr., GK, Louisville
Minout Mink, So., F, Louisville
Nicole Woods, Sr., F/M, Louisville
Ashley Hoffman, Jr., M/B, North Carolina
Eva van't Hoog, Jr., M, North Carolina
Laura Hurff, Sr., M/F, Syracuse
Roos Weers, Jr., B, Syracuse
Tara Vittese, Sr., M, Virginia
Nicola Pluta, So., F, Wake Forest
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Duke and Syracuse were picked second with 27 points apiece, ahead of Louisville (22), Virginia (21), Wake Forest (12), and Boston College (7).Â
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"The ACC is anybody's race this year," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Top to bottom, it's an outstanding year for our conference and probably the best parity we've ever had. I think it's the strongest the league has ever been."
Â
The Tar Heels, who have reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship each of the past eight years, were one of five different teams to receive a vote for first place in the conference, joined by Duke, Syracuse, Louisville, and Virginia.
Â
Juniors Ashley Hoffman and Eva van't Hoog represented UNC on the preseason All-ACC Team.
Â
UNC opens the 2017 season on Saturday, taking on Michigan in Iowa City, Iowa, at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Tar Heels face the host Hawkeyes on Sunday.
Â
"We're excited to kick the season off," Shelton said. "Preseason is always kind of grueling so it's nice to play somebody else. The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is an outstanding event and we love starting the season that way. We're really looking forward to the weekend."
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2017 ACC Field Hockey Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina (1) - 31
2. Duke (2) - 27
2. Syracuse (2) - 27
4. Louisville (1) - 22
5. Virginia (1) - 21
6. Wake Forest - 12
7. Boston College - 7
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2017 Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey Team
Frederique Haverhals, Jr., B/M, Boston College
Alyssa Chillano, Sr., B, Duke
Ayeisha McFerran, Jr., GK, Louisville
Minout Mink, So., F, Louisville
Nicole Woods, Sr., F/M, Louisville
Ashley Hoffman, Jr., M/B, North Carolina
Eva van't Hoog, Jr., M, North Carolina
Laura Hurff, Sr., M/F, Syracuse
Roos Weers, Jr., B, Syracuse
Tara Vittese, Sr., M, Virginia
Nicola Pluta, So., F, Wake Forest
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Players Mentioned
Midfield/Back
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Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 25