University of North Carolina Athletics
Alessia Russo has been named to preseason Soccer America Bext XI
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Ranked Fourth In Preseason Soccer America Poll
August 16, 2018 | Women's Soccer
Russo named to preseason All-America Team
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Soccer America Magazine has released its preseason Top 25 rankings for the 2018 collegiate women's soccer campaign and Coach Anson Dorrance's Tar Heels check in at #6 in the rankings. Defending NCAA champion Stanford heads the list followed by UCLA, Penn State, the Tar Heels and Florida rounding out the Top 5
RANKINGS
1. Stanford (24-1-0)
2. UCLA (19-3-3)
3. Penn State (15-5-4)
4. North Carolina (17-3-2)
5. Florida (17-5-1)
6. Florida State (13-7-1)
7. Virginia (13-6-4)
8. West Virginia (16-4-3)
9. USC (15-4-1)
10. Duke (23-3-0)
11. Princeton (16-3-1)
12. Baylor (15-6-3)
13. Texas A&M (12-8-2)
14. South Carolina (21-2-1)
15. Georgetown (14-3-4)
16. California (13-6-1)
17. Santa Clara (15-7-1)
18. N.C. State (14-5-2)
19. Tennessee (11-9-1)
20. UCF (16-2-3)
21. Notre Dame (10-7-5)
22. Pepperdine (15-3-3)
23. Texas (14-4-3)
24. Washington State (10-8-4)
25. Oklahoma State (16-4-3)
Note: Soccer America's Top 25 is released each week on Tuesday during the college regular season.
Carolina opens its 2018 season Thursday afternoon against Illinois at 5 p.m. at Finley Field South.
UNC sophomore forward Alessia Russo has been named to the Soccer America preseason Best XI collegiate All-America Team. She is currently in France playing with the England U20 Team at the FIFA World Cup. England plays the Netherlands Friday in the quarterfinals.
Soccer America 2018 Preseason Best XI
Goalkeeper
Vera Varis, UCF (Finland)
Defender
Alana Cook, Stanford (Far Hills, N.J.)
-- Tierna Davidson, Stanford (Menlo Park, Calif.)
-- Grace Fisk, South Carolina (England)
-- Tegan McGrady, Stanford (San Jose, Calif.)
Midfielder
Jessie Fleming, UCLA (London, Ont.)
-- Emily Ogle, Penn State (Strongsville, Ohio)
Forward
Deyna Castellanos, Florida State (Venezuela)
-- Catarina Macario, Stanford (San Diego, Calif.)
-- Hailie Mace, UCLA (Ventura, Calif.)
-- Alessia Russo, North Carolina (England)
RANKINGS
1. Stanford (24-1-0)
2. UCLA (19-3-3)
3. Penn State (15-5-4)
4. North Carolina (17-3-2)
5. Florida (17-5-1)
6. Florida State (13-7-1)
7. Virginia (13-6-4)
8. West Virginia (16-4-3)
9. USC (15-4-1)
10. Duke (23-3-0)
11. Princeton (16-3-1)
12. Baylor (15-6-3)
13. Texas A&M (12-8-2)
14. South Carolina (21-2-1)
15. Georgetown (14-3-4)
16. California (13-6-1)
17. Santa Clara (15-7-1)
18. N.C. State (14-5-2)
19. Tennessee (11-9-1)
20. UCF (16-2-3)
21. Notre Dame (10-7-5)
22. Pepperdine (15-3-3)
23. Texas (14-4-3)
24. Washington State (10-8-4)
25. Oklahoma State (16-4-3)
Note: Soccer America's Top 25 is released each week on Tuesday during the college regular season.
Carolina opens its 2018 season Thursday afternoon against Illinois at 5 p.m. at Finley Field South.
UNC sophomore forward Alessia Russo has been named to the Soccer America preseason Best XI collegiate All-America Team. She is currently in France playing with the England U20 Team at the FIFA World Cup. England plays the Netherlands Friday in the quarterfinals.
Soccer America 2018 Preseason Best XI
Goalkeeper
Vera Varis, UCF (Finland)
Defender
Alana Cook, Stanford (Far Hills, N.J.)
-- Tierna Davidson, Stanford (Menlo Park, Calif.)
-- Grace Fisk, South Carolina (England)
-- Tegan McGrady, Stanford (San Jose, Calif.)
Midfielder
Jessie Fleming, UCLA (London, Ont.)
-- Emily Ogle, Penn State (Strongsville, Ohio)
Forward
Deyna Castellanos, Florida State (Venezuela)
-- Catarina Macario, Stanford (San Diego, Calif.)
-- Hailie Mace, UCLA (Ventura, Calif.)
-- Alessia Russo, North Carolina (England)
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's SoccerLatinx Heritage Month 2025 - Lindsay Lumsden & Team Guatemala Feature
Thursday, October 02
UNC Volleyball: Pearce, Hampton Dominant in Sweep of Duke
Thursday, October 02
Tylee Strong Forever: The Mini Movie
Wednesday, October 01
Bill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 5 - September 30, 2025
Tuesday, September 30