University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Picked As ACC Favorites
August 18, 2010 | Field Hockey
Aug. 18, 2010
On the heels of winning the 2009 NCAA Championship, North Carolina has been voted the favorite in the race for the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey championship and three Tar Heels have been named to the preseason All-ACC squad. Voting was by the leagues coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players, and was announced today by the ACC.
Carolina seniors Katelyn Falgowski and Jackie Kintzer and sophomore Kelsey Kolojejchick, all first-team All-Americas and All-ACC selections in 2009, were voted to the 11-member preseason All-ACC team. UNC led all schools with three selections.
In team voting, UNC collected 24 of the possible 25 points, receiving four first-place votes and one second-place. Maryland, the 2009 ACC Champion and national runner-up, came in second, picking up 21 points and one first place vote. Virginia took third place with 18 points, followed by Wake Forest (12) in fourth, Boston College (9) in fifth and Duke (6) in sixth. The Cavaliers received the final first place vote.
Last season saw five of the six league teams earn bids to the NCAA Tournament. Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Wake Forest advanced to the second round, with the Terrapins, Tar Heels and Cavaliers competing in the semifinals. The championship game matchup between Maryland and North Carolina marked the second consecutive year and eighth time overall that two ACC teams faced off in the final. The league had all six teams finish the season ranked in the top 17 of the final NFHCA poll.
UNC opens the season on Aug. 28, hosting Michigan, Wake Forest and Iowa for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
2010 Predicted Order of Finish
(as selected by the league's coaches)
Team (First Place Votes), Points, 2009 Overall Record (2009 ACC Record)
1. North Carolina (4), 24, 20-2 (4-1)
2. Maryland (1), 21, 23-1 (5-0)
3. Virginia (1), 18, 20-4 (3-2)
4. Wake Forest, 12, 13-7 (2-3)
5. Boston College, 9, 13-7 (1-4)
6. Duke, 6, 9-10 (0-5)
2010 Preseason All-ACC Team
(as selected by the league's coaches)
Name, School, Year, Position
Emily Kozniuk, Boston College, Senior, Midfield/Back
Rhian Jones, Duke, Junior, Midfield/Defense
Tara Jennings, Duke, Junior, Midfield
Megan Frazer, Maryland, Sophomore, Midfield
Katie O'Donnell, Maryland, Senior, Attack
Katelyn Falgowski, North Carolina, Senior, Midfield
Jackie Kintzer, North Carolina, Senior, Goal
Kelsey Kolojejchick, North Carolina, Sophomore, Midfield
Paige Selenski, Virginia, Junior, Midfield
Michelle Vittese, Virginia, Junior, Midfield
Lizzie Rae, Wake Forest, Sophomore, Midfield
