2. North Carolina (19-4-1).
Last year: The Tar Heels captured their third straight ACC championship in 2007 -- and 19th in 21 years -- but fell to Notre Dame, 3-2, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

This year: North Carolina returns eight starters, including three players (Casey Nogueira, Nikki Washington and Meghan Klingenberg) on the U.S. U-20 World Cup qualifying team.

JC transfer Jess McDonald was also on the U-20 team, while Olympian Tobin Heath is also eligible for the U-20 World Cup.

UNC also returns 2007 Soccer America MVP Yael Averbuch -- one of eight starters from its championship team of two years ago to return in 2008.