GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Boston College has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2022 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Poll, released Tuesday by the conference office. Coming off its first national championship in program history, BC finished with 76 total points in voting by the ACC’s nine head coaches.
The Eagles edged out five-time reigning league champion North Carolina by two points for the top spot in the preseason prognostications. Syracuse – the 2021 national runner-up – was third with 63 points and followed by Notre Dame (56), Duke (45), Virginia (36), Louisville (24), Virginia Tech (20) and Pitt (11). The Panthers are making their program debut this season.
The Preseason All-ACC Team features 18 student-athletes, including 2021 Tewaaraton Trophy honoree and 2020-21 ACC Female Athlete of the Year Charlotte North of Boston College as well as each of the ACC’s season award winners from 2021 campaign: UNC’s Jamie Ortega (Attacker of the Year), Ally Mastroianni (Midfielder of the Year) and Taylor Moreno (Defender of the Year) and BC’s Belle Smith (Freshman of the Year). UNC’s Emma Trenchard (2019 ACC Defender of the Year) and Syracuse’s Sarah Cooper (2019 ACC Freshman of the Year) also are on the preseason team.
Boston College, North Carolina and Syracuse lead all schools with four student-athletes on the Preseason All-ACC Team, while seven schools are represented.
Six ACC women’s lacrosse teams are ranked in the Preseason Inside Lacrosse Women/IWLCA poll, with the ACC holding each of the top three spots and six of the top 11 with Boston College (1), North Carolina (2), Syracuse (3), Notre Dame (5), Duke (8) and Virginia (11). The ACC has the most teams in the poll among all conferences.
The ACC leads all leagues with 32 players on the preseason Inside Lacrosse All-America Team, including 10 of the 13 first-team honorees. Twelve of the 19 student-athletes on the Preseason All-ACC Team also are represented on three teams of Inside Lacrosse’s preseason All-America squad.
The 2022 women’s lacrosse season commences this weekend with all nine programs in action. Pitt starts its inaugural season at 5 p.m. Friday at home against Duquesne. The featured national matchup of the opening weekend comes at noon Saturday as top-ranked Boston College opens its season at home against No. 4 Northwestern.
2022 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Boston College, 76
2. North Carolina, 74
3. Syracuse, 63
4. Notre Dame, 56
5. Duke, 45
6. Virginia, 36
7. Louisville, 24
8. Virginia Tech, 20
9. Pitt, 11
2022 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack
Charlotte North, Gr., Boston College
Jamie Ortega, 5th Year, North Carolina
Meaghan Tyrrell, Sr., Syracuse
Midfield
Ally Mastroianni, Gr., North Carolina
Belle Smith, So., Boston College
Emma Tyrrell, Jr., Syracuse
Kasey Choma, Jr., Notre Dame
Defense
Sarah Cooper, Sr., Syracuse
Hollie Schleicher, Jr, Boston College
Emma Trenchard, 5th Year, North Carolina
Goalie
Taylor Moreno, Gr., North Carolina
At-Large
Madison Ahern, Jr., Notre Dame
Catriona Berry, Gr., Duke
Caroline Blalock, Gr., Louisville
Bridget Deehan, Gr., Notre Dame
Jenn Medjid, Sr., Boston College
Emily Hawryschuk, Gr., Syracuse
Paige Petty, Gr., Pitt