University of North Carolina Athletics
Ela Hazar
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Tar Heels Start No. 3 In IWLCA Poll
January 29, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL–The University of North Carolina will begin the 2018 women's lacrosse season ranked third in the nation. The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) released its 2018 preseason rankings on Monday afternoon.
Defending NCAA champion Maryland topped the poll, followed by No. 2 Stony Brook and No. 3 UNC. Penn State and Florida complete the top five. Teams six through 10 include Boston College, Syracuse, Southern California, Princeton and Navy.
Six of the Atlantic Coast Conference's eight teams grabbed spots in the poll, also including No. 14 Virginia, No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 20 Duke. The Big Ten placed four of seven teams in the poll, while the Ivy League, PAC-12 and the CAA each had three.
Carolina finished fifth nationally in 2017, posting a 17-3 overall record. Â The Tar Heels won the ACC regular season and tournament championships for a second consecutive year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior and 2017 Tewaaraton Award finalist Marie McCool, the youngest member of the gold-medal-winning 2017 United States World Cup team, returns to lead the Tar Heel attack this season.  Also back is the record-setting Ela Hazar, who broke the UNC school record for assists with 40 last spring. Â
Other key Tar Heels in 2018 should include Maggie Bill, who missed all but 12 games last season due to injury, as well as key defender Erin Kelly, sophomore midfielder Katie Hoeg, junior Kara Klages and the top-rated incoming freshman class in the nation.
Carolina will open its 2018 regular season on Saturday Feb. 10 at James Madison.
Defending NCAA champion Maryland topped the poll, followed by No. 2 Stony Brook and No. 3 UNC. Penn State and Florida complete the top five. Teams six through 10 include Boston College, Syracuse, Southern California, Princeton and Navy.
Six of the Atlantic Coast Conference's eight teams grabbed spots in the poll, also including No. 14 Virginia, No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 20 Duke. The Big Ten placed four of seven teams in the poll, while the Ivy League, PAC-12 and the CAA each had three.
Carolina finished fifth nationally in 2017, posting a 17-3 overall record. Â The Tar Heels won the ACC regular season and tournament championships for a second consecutive year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior and 2017 Tewaaraton Award finalist Marie McCool, the youngest member of the gold-medal-winning 2017 United States World Cup team, returns to lead the Tar Heel attack this season.  Also back is the record-setting Ela Hazar, who broke the UNC school record for assists with 40 last spring. Â
Other key Tar Heels in 2018 should include Maggie Bill, who missed all but 12 games last season due to injury, as well as key defender Erin Kelly, sophomore midfielder Katie Hoeg, junior Kara Klages and the top-rated incoming freshman class in the nation.
Carolina will open its 2018 regular season on Saturday Feb. 10 at James Madison.
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