University of North Carolina Athletics
Ashley Hoffman (left) and Eva van't Hoog (center) were picked for the preseason All-ACC team.
UNC Tops ACC Preseason Poll, Hoffman and van't Hoog Named All-ACC
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.
Duke and Syracuse were picked second with 27 points apiece, ahead of Louisville (22), Virginia (21), Wake Forest (12), and Boston College (7).
"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."
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.
Juniors Ashley Hoffman and Eva van't Hoog represented UNC on the preseason All-ACC Team.
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.
"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."
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
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
Duke and Syracuse were picked second with 27 points apiece, ahead of Louisville (22), Virginia (21), Wake Forest (12), and Boston College (7).
"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."
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.
Juniors Ashley Hoffman and Eva van't Hoog represented UNC on the preseason All-ACC Team.
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.
"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."
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
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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