The University of Louisville lacrosse team was picked to finish seventh in the ACC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The defending ACC champions North Carolina was selected as the preseason favorite.
The defending NCAA Champion Tar Heels received seven first-place votes en route to 63 total points, followed by Syracuse (one first-place vote, 52 points) and Notre Dame (50 points). Duke was selected fourth (37 points), while Boston College and Virginia each earned 29 points to tie for fifth. Louisville (20) was picked to finish seventh and Virginia Tech (8) eighth.
Louisville returns seven starters from the 2016 team that finished with a No. 15 ranking by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. Last season the Cardinals once again played one of their toughest schedules in program history, finishing with a 12-6 overall record and held a 3-4 clip in conference play. Â Louisville secured its third consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to No. 12 Northwestern in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior defender Stephanie McNamara was named to the preseason All-ACC Team. The Preseason All-ACC Team features three returning IWLCA First Team All-Americans and six total All-Americans from the 2016 season. Six of the eight ACC institutions were recognized on the Preseason All-ACC Team, led by North Carolina with six selections. Notre Dame and Syracuse each had two student-athletes named to the team, while Duke, Louisville and Virginia each had one student-athlete tabbed. All 13 members of the Preseason All-ACC Team were also named Preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse.
McNamara is a team captain and a three-year starter for the Cardinals. She has helped anchor the Cardinals’ defense and helped record the first shutout in school history her sophomore season. Last year she helped the Louisville defense keep 12 opponents in single-digit scoring. She finished second on the team with 17 caused turnovers.
The Cardinals will begin the 2017 season on Feb. 4 as they host Vermont at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
2017 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Poll
- North Carolina (63)
- Syracuse (52)
- Notre Dame (50)
- Duke (37)
T5. Boston College (29)
T5. Virginia (29)
- Â Â Louisville (20)
- Virginia Tech (8)
Preseason All-ACC Team
A – Molly Hendrick, Sr., North Carolina
A – Sammy Jo Tracy, Sr., North Carolina
A – Cortney Fortunato, Sr., Notre Dame
A – Riley Donahue, Jr., Syracuse
M – Maddie Crutchfield, Jr., Duke
M – Marie McCool, Jr., North Carolina
M – Maggie Bill, Jr., North Carolina
M – Casey Pearsall, Sr., Notre Dame
D – Steph McNamara, Sr., Louisville
D – Maggie Auslander, Sr., North Carolina
D – Kaeli O’Connor, Sr., Syracuse
Kimberli Pemberton
Assistant Sports Information Director
