University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Tops ACC Coaches Preseason Poll
August 16, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2001
GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina, the 2000 ACC Tournament champions, has been selected as the favorite for the upcoming 2001 ACC Men's Soccer season, as determined by a vote of the leagues seven head coaches.
The Tar Heels finished the 2000 campaign with a 21-3 overall record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Heading into 2001, North Carolina collected 42 points in the pre-season balloting, edging out Virginia, which finished second with 39 points.
Selected to finish second, the Cavaliers enter the season after advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season and finished with a 17-6-1 record.
With 37 points, Clemson was picked to finish third while Maryland was fourth recording 30 points.
Completing the pre-season poll in order of finish is Duke (26), Wake Forest (15) and NC State (7).
Considered by many to be one of the top soccer conferences in the nation, ACC schools have won nine national championships in men's soccer over the last 17 years. This year, the ACC enters the 2001 season with four teams ranked in the 2001 NSCAA preseason poll. Carolina heads up the poll for the ACC at the No. 5 spot, followed by Virginia at No. 7, Clemson at No. 8, and Duke at No. 13.
elow is a listing of the preseason coaches' poll with 2000 records and regular season finishes.
2001 PRE-SEASON ACC MEN'S SOCCER POLL
School, Points, 2000 Record/Finish
1. North Carolina, 42, 21-3-0, 5-1 ACC/1st
2. Virginia, 39, 17-6-1, 5-1 ACC/2nd
3. Clemson, 37, 14-4-2, 3-3 ACC/4th
4. Maryland, 30, 10-9-0, 1-5 ACC/6th
5. Duke, 26, 15-6-0, 5-1 ACC/3rd
6. Wake Forest, 15, 10-7-2, 2-4 ACC/5th
7. NC State, 7, 3-12-3, 0-6 ACC/7th
