Women’s Soccer Picked To Finish Fourth In ACC

Aug. 6, 2003

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels have been selected as the top pick for the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Soccer season, as determined by a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.

The Tar Heels, who have won 14 consecutive ACC titles, tallied 63 points, including seven first place votes. North Carolina returns 21 letterwinners and eight starters, including ACC Rookie of the Year Lindsay Tarpley, from a squad that posted a 21-2-4 record last season and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championship for the 16th consecutive season – every season that women’s soccer has been a league sanctioned sport.

The Virginia Cavaliers rank second in the preseason poll, having notched 52 points after advancing to the third round of the NCAA Championship last season. The Cavs welcome back 16 letterwinners and nine starters for this, the 17th season of ACC Women’s Soccer.

The Florida State Seminoles (37) edged out the Clemson Tigers (36) for the third slot in the poll after advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. The ‘Noles return 15 letterwinners and eight starters.

Completing the preseason poll in order of projected finish are Maryland (34), Duke (32), Wake Forest (20) and NC State (14).

2003 Preseason ACC Women’s Soccer Poll

    School               Points       2002 Record1.  North Carolina (7)     63         21-2-4 (4-1-2)2.  Virginia (1)           52         13-7-2 (4-3-0)3.  Florida State          37         13-7-3 (3-3-1)4.  Clemson                36         14-8-0 (4-3-0)5.  Maryland               34         13-8-1 (3-3-1)6.  Duke                   32         9-9-2 (2-3-2)7.  Wake Forest            20         13-8-1 (2-4-1)8.  NC State               14         10-8-1 (2-4-1)