[ACC PREVIEW] How competitive was the ACC in 2011? It had three teams reach the Women’s College Cup — and four make the final eight — and none of them wasnamed North Carolina. Eight ACC teams made the final 16 and nine of its 11 members made the 2011 NCAA Tournament. All we know is the ACC will be just as competitive in 2012. Duke and Wake Forest,ranked 1-2 in the ACC coaches’ poll both return all 11 starters, and the ACC’s top 10 scorers are all back.
Duke was the overwhelming favorite of ACC coaches, taking 10 of 11 first-placevotes. It marks the first time a team other than North Carolina was selected first in the ACC preseason poll since the coaches’ vote began in 1992.
The Blue Devils’ list of returnees fromlast season’s 22-4-1 team includes ACC Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Anasi, midfielder Kaitlyn Kerr and forwardsKelly Cobb, Laura Weinberg and Mollie Pathman, who combined for 25 goals and 24assists.
Wake Forest is strong in the back with goalie Aubrey Bledsoe, a member of the 2011 Soccer America MVPs second team, and up front with 2011ACC Offensive Player of the Year Katie Stengel (19 goals and 8 assists).
Florida State, one of the three semifinalists, won the ACC Tournamentafter going 5-5-0 in the regular season. Tiffany McCarty (18 goals, 6 assists) will lead the Seminoles’ attack that has added Icelandic international
While Duke, Wake and Florida State all went to the College Cup, Virginia lost in the quarterfinals at FSU.
TheCavaliers return five of their front six, including Soccer America Freshman of the Year Morgan Brian, top goal scorer CarolineMiller (15 goals) and Erica Hollenberg, who led the team with 10 assists.
The 2011 season was, to say the least, a down year for NorthCarolina, which finished the regular season with three straight defeats, including its first ever loss in the ACC Tournament.
But even without LindseyHoran, who signed over the summer with Paris St. Germain, North Carolina welcomes one of the nation’s best freshman classes led by U.S. U-20 goalie BryaneHeaberlin and U-17 star Summer Green.
(UPDATE: Indi Cowie,dubbed the best freestyle soccer player in the world, will red-short after injuring her knee this spring.)
Heaberlin is one of three Tar Heels along with Crystal Dunn and Kealia Ohai representing the USA at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan.
Six other ACC players are on the U.S.U-20 team: Kassey Kallman (Florida State), Dayle Colpitts (Virginia Tech), Cobb and Pathman (Duke), Brian (Virginia) andStengel (Wake Forest). (Virginia’s Steve Swanson is the U-20s’ head coach.)
The one coaching change in the ACC took place at Maryland, where
ACC IN BRIEF:
2011 REGULAR SEASON. 1. Duke (8-1-1), 2. Virginia (7-2-1), 3. Wake Forest (5-2-3), 3. North Carolina (6-3-1). 5. BostonCollege (6-4-0).
2011 TOURNAMENT. Florida State beat Wake Forest 1-1 (3-1 on penalty kicks).
2011 NCAA TOURNAMENT.Duke lost in final, Florida State and Wake Forest lost in the semifinals, Virginia lost in the third round, Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia Tech lost in the third round, Miami(Fla.) lost in first round.
2012 FAVORITE. Duke
2012 CONTENDERS. Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia,North Carolina.
2012 CREAM OF THE CROP. D Natasha Anasi, Duke, jr.; F Tiffany McCarty, Florida State, sr.; F Katie Stengel, Wake Forest, jr.; G AubreyBledsoe, Wake Forest, jr.; M Morgan Brian, Virginia, soph.; M Kristen Mewis, Boston College, jr.; M Crystal Dunn, North Carolina, jr.; M Kaitlyn Kerr, Duke, jr.; M Kelly Cobb, Duke, soph.; D InesJaurena, Florida State, sr.; M Amber Brooks, North Carolina, sr.; F Caroline Miller, Virginia, sr.
2012 TOP NEWCOMERS. G Bryane Heaberlin, North Carolina;M/F Summer Green, North Carolina; F Berglind Thorvaldsdottir, Florida State; M Ashley Spivey, Maryland; M Cassie Pecht, Duke; F Lauren Bernard, Boston College; M Makenzy Doniak, Virginia; M DriaHampton, Florida State (transfer); G Alexa Gaul, Boston College (transfer).
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