Women’s Soccer Preason Third In ACC

Aug. 16, 2001

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The 2000 national champion North Carolina Tar Heels were selected preseason favorites for the 2001 ACC Women’s Soccer season in a poll by the eight league coaches. The Tar Heels received 63 of a possible 64 points, and all but one of the first place votes.

North Carolina, holder of 17 national championships and the last twelve ACC Tournament Championships, returns numerous key players from last year’s team, including senior Jena Kluegel who placed second in the nation with 0.96 assists per game last season. Despite losing Soccer Times Player of the Year Meredith Florance, the Tar Heels will return seven starters, including All-America’s Kluegel and Danielle Borgman.

Virginia claimed the second spot in the poll with 51 points, as the Cavaliers look to last season’s ACC Player of the Year Lori Lindsey. Virginia edged out third place Clemson, which garnered 49 points in the poll. Clemson became the first team in six years to take the regular season championship away from the Tar Heels, as the Tigers won their first regular season championship in the program’s history.

Wake Forest received 35 points for fourth place in the poll, while Florida State fell just one point behind in fifth place. Duke and NC State finished with 26 and 18 points respectively, while Maryland rounded out the poll in eighth place with 12 points.

Below is a listing of the preseason coaches’ poll with 2000 records and regular season finishes.