Following the lead of their male counterparts, the ACC’s women’s lacrosse coaches have selected North Carolina as the preseason favorite to win the conference title. The Tar Heel women, who like the men are defending national champions, received seven of eight possible first place votes for 63 points, easily outdistancing second pick Syracuse, which received the other first place ballot and 52 points. Notre Dame finished third in the preseason coaches poll, followed by Duke, Boston College, Virginia, Louisville and Virginia Tech. UNC also led the way with six players earning spots on the preseason All-ACC team, including 2016 All-Americans Molly Hendrick and Marie McCool. Hendrick is a senior attack, McCool is a junior midfielder. The other Tar Heels to make the team are senior attack Sammy Jo Tracy, junior midfielder Maggie Bill, senior defender Maggie Auslander and goalkeeper Caylee Waters. Duke midfielder Maddie Crutchfield was the only Blue Devil selected. The 2017 women’s lacrosse team begins on Saturday with UNC opening at home against James Madison and Duke at home against Drexel. The ACC women’s lacrosse tournament will be played April 27-30 in Richmond, Virginia.2017 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Poll1. North Carolina (63)2. Syracuse (52)3. Notre Dame (50)4. Duke (37)T5. Boston College (29)T5. Virginia (29)7. Louisville (20)8.Virginia Tech (8) Preseason All-ACC TeamA Molly Hendrick, Sr., North CarolinaA Sammy Jo Tracy, Sr., North CarolinaA Cortney Fortunato, Sr., Notre DameA Riley Donahue, Jr., SyracuseM Maddie Crutchfield, Jr., DukeM Marie McCool, Jr., North CarolinaM Maggie Bill, Jr., North CarolinaM Casey Pearsall, Sr., Notre DameD Steph McNamara, Sr., LouisvilleD Maggie Auslander, Sr., North CarolinaD Kaeli O’Connor, Sr., SyracuseD Maggie Preas, Sr., VirginiaG Caylee Waters, Sr., North Carolina * Because of a tie, an extra member was added to the Preseason All-ACC Team
