CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – A pair of ranked matchups on Friday, October 4, headline this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey action. A total of six conference matches are on the docket throughout the weekend, concluding on Sunday, October 6.
The ACC placed North Carolina holds onto the No. 1 spot in this week’s NFHCA Coaches Poll following a bye week. Joining the top-ranked Tar Heels in the poll are No. 3 Virginia, No. 11 Boston College, No. 12 Duke, No. 15 Syracuse, No. 16 Louisville and No. 20 California. The Golden Bears appear in the NFHCA poll for the first time since the 2018 season and for the first time as ACC members.
Both California and Stanford will play in their ACC home opening matches this weekend. Cal will host Duke on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Stanford will host the top-ranked Tar Heels at 8 p.m. ET. Friday will feature two additional ACC matches when Louisville travels to Syracuse at 4 p.m. ET and Boston College hosts Virginia at 4:30 p.m. ET. All four matches will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
On Sunday, October 6, Syracuse and Boston College will play against ranked non-conference opponents. The Orange will host No. 14 Princeton at 11:30 a.m. ET, while Boston College will travel to No. 19 UMass – Amherst at 1 p.m. ET.
After two weeks of conference play, Virginia sits alone at the top of the ACC standings with a 3-0 mark against conference opponents. Overall, Virginia is off to a 9-0 start to the season, marking the Cavaliers’ best start to the season since 2010.
ACC Field Hockey Weekly Schedule
Friday, October 4
#16 Louisville at #15 Syracuse | 4 p.m. | ACCNX
#3 Virginia at #11 Boston College | 4:30 p.m. | ACCNX
#12 Duke at #20 Cal | 7 p.m. | ACCNX
#1 North Carolina at Stanford | 8 p.m. | ACCNX
Sunday, October 6
#14 Princeton at #15 Syracuse | 11:30 a.m. | ACCNX
#16 Louisville at #3 Virginia | Noon | ACCNX
Davidson at Wake Forest | Noon | ACCNX
#11 Boston College at #19 UMass | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
#1 North Carolina at #20 Cal | 3 p.m. | ACCNX
#12 Duke at Stanford | 5 p.m. | ACCNX
All times Eastern
Noting ACC Field Hockey
- North Carolina holds onto the No. 1 spot in the NFHCA Coaches Poll following a bye week. Joining the top-ranked Tar Heels in the poll are No. 3 Virginia, No. 11 Boston College, No. 12 Duke, No. 15 Syracuse, No. 16 Louisville and No. 20 California.
- Cal is ranked in the NFHCA Coaches Poll for the first time as a member of the ACC.
- The Golden Bears are also appearing in the poll for the first time since the 2018 season.
- Cal head coach Shellie Onstead is one win away from her 300th career victory. The Golden Bears' leader is the eighth-winningest active head coach and would be the third active ACC coach to reach the milestone, joining Wake Forest's Jen Averill and Duke's Pam Bustin.
- Virginia's Mia Abello was named the ACC's Offensive Player of the Week, while Boston College's Charley Kramer and Syracuse's Louise Pert were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week.
- After two weekends of conference play, Virginia sits alone atop the ACC standings at 3-0. Boston College and North Carolina also remain undefeated in league play.
- Three of the top 10 teams in the September 29 RPI rankings hail from the ACC. North Carolina leads the country at No. 1, followed by No. 3 Virginia and No. 10 Boston College.
- Two of the four remaining undefeated Division I teams hail from the ACC. North Carolina and Virginia have combined to win 15 games this season, including nine over ranked opponents.
- North Carolina has been the ACC's highest-scoring offense this season, averaging 4.17 goals per game, ranking second nationally. The Tar Heels also rank second nationally in goals against average, allowing just 0.33 goals per game.