University of North Carolina Athletics
Women’s Soccer First In Preseason Poll, Three Named Preseason All-ACC
August 10, 2023 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – First until proven otherwise.
The University of North Carolina women's soccer team has been picked to finish first in the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Coaches poll, as announced by the league office Thursday afternoon.
The Tar Heels, the 2022 national and conference runner-up, topped the preseason poll with 166 points and 10 first-place votes. Florida State garnered 146 points and two first-place nods to be chosen second, followed by Virginia (139), Notre Dame (134) and Duke (126). The Cavaliers and Blue Devils both received one first-place bid.
Conference coaches also named their 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team which features three Tar Heels: defender Maycee Bell, midfielder Sam Meza and midfielder/forward Ally Sentnor. Carolina's three players are the most of all league teams.
A redshirt-senior, Bell returns to the pitch after missing the 2022 campaign due to a season-ending injury sustained in the season opener. She was named Second Team All-America and First Team All-Atlantic Region as a junior in 2021 and is a two-time First Team All-ACC selection.
A Third Team All-America honoree last year, Meza solidified herself as one of the top midfielders in the country. Having also been tabbed First Team All-ACC and First Team All-Atlantic Region, she tallied two goals and four assists in 16 appearances.
After missing her freshman season due to injury, Sentnor exploded onto the scene a season ago, finding herself on the NCAA All-Tournament Team and All-ACC First Team. Also a Third Team All-Atlantic Region pick, she ranked second in the nation with five game-winning goals and registered back-to-back braces in the NCAA Tournament.
2023 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
North Carolina (10) - 166
Florida State (2) - 146
Virginia (1) - 139
Notre Dame - 134
Duke (1) - 126
Clemson - 104
Pitt - 103
Wake Forest - 87
Virginia Tech - 81
NC State - 62
Louisville - 47
Syracuse - 35
Miami - 24
Boston College - 20
First-place votes in parentheses
2023 Preseason All-ACC Team
Maycee Bell, Sr., D, North Carolina
Megan Bornkamp, Sr., D, Clemson
Jody Brown, Sr., F, Florida State
Maggie Cagle, So., F, Virginia
Eva Gaetino, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Hal Hershfelt, Gr., M, Clemson
Jameese Joseph, Sr., F, NC State
Sam Meza, Sr., M, North Carolina
Kat Rader, So., F, Duke
Cristina Roque, Sr., GK, Florida State
Ally Sentnor, So., M/F, North Carolina
Amanda West, Sr., F, Pitt
One additional honoree because of a tie in the voting
The Tar Heels have one exhibition match remaining on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. ET against East Carolina at Dorrance Field. The 2023 season officially opens on Thursday, Aug. 20, as UNC travels to Penn State for a 7 p.m. contest.
North Carolina also checked in at No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The University of North Carolina women's soccer team has been picked to finish first in the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Coaches poll, as announced by the league office Thursday afternoon.
The Tar Heels, the 2022 national and conference runner-up, topped the preseason poll with 166 points and 10 first-place votes. Florida State garnered 146 points and two first-place nods to be chosen second, followed by Virginia (139), Notre Dame (134) and Duke (126). The Cavaliers and Blue Devils both received one first-place bid.
Conference coaches also named their 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team which features three Tar Heels: defender Maycee Bell, midfielder Sam Meza and midfielder/forward Ally Sentnor. Carolina's three players are the most of all league teams.
A redshirt-senior, Bell returns to the pitch after missing the 2022 campaign due to a season-ending injury sustained in the season opener. She was named Second Team All-America and First Team All-Atlantic Region as a junior in 2021 and is a two-time First Team All-ACC selection.
A Third Team All-America honoree last year, Meza solidified herself as one of the top midfielders in the country. Having also been tabbed First Team All-ACC and First Team All-Atlantic Region, she tallied two goals and four assists in 16 appearances.
After missing her freshman season due to injury, Sentnor exploded onto the scene a season ago, finding herself on the NCAA All-Tournament Team and All-ACC First Team. Also a Third Team All-Atlantic Region pick, she ranked second in the nation with five game-winning goals and registered back-to-back braces in the NCAA Tournament.
2023 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
North Carolina (10) - 166
Florida State (2) - 146
Virginia (1) - 139
Notre Dame - 134
Duke (1) - 126
Clemson - 104
Pitt - 103
Wake Forest - 87
Virginia Tech - 81
NC State - 62
Louisville - 47
Syracuse - 35
Miami - 24
Boston College - 20
First-place votes in parentheses
2023 Preseason All-ACC Team
Maycee Bell, Sr., D, North Carolina
Megan Bornkamp, Sr., D, Clemson
Jody Brown, Sr., F, Florida State
Maggie Cagle, So., F, Virginia
Eva Gaetino, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Hal Hershfelt, Gr., M, Clemson
Jameese Joseph, Sr., F, NC State
Sam Meza, Sr., M, North Carolina
Kat Rader, So., F, Duke
Cristina Roque, Sr., GK, Florida State
Ally Sentnor, So., M/F, North Carolina
Amanda West, Sr., F, Pitt
One additional honoree because of a tie in the voting
The Tar Heels have one exhibition match remaining on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. ET against East Carolina at Dorrance Field. The 2023 season officially opens on Thursday, Aug. 20, as UNC travels to Penn State for a 7 p.m. contest.
North Carolina also checked in at No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
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