CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fresh off its 2024 national championship, North Carolina has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s soccer coaches poll, the league announced Thursday. The ACC also unveiled its 2025 Preseason Women’s Soccer All-ACC Team.
The Tar Heels, who captured their nation-best 23rd national title and first since 2012, topped the poll with 10 first-place votes and 246 total points. North Carolina defeated in-state rival Wake Forest 1-0 in last year’s final, marking the eighth straight season an ACC team reached the national championship match. The 2024 Women’s College Cup also featured four ACC programs for the first time in league history.
Notre Dame ranked second with 229 points and two first-place votes, followed by defending ACC champion Florida State with four first-place votes and 225 points. Duke (208 points), Stanford (201) and Wake Forest (172) rounded out the top six. Virginia, which earned the final first-place vote, was seventh (169), followed by Virginia Tech (162), Clemson (132) and California (124). Pitt, SMU, Boston College, Louisville, Miami, NC State and Syracuse completed the rankings.
The 2025 Preseason All-ACC Team features 14 players, including 10 returners from the 2024 All-ACC squad. Notables include North Carolina’s Kate Faasse, last season’s MAC Hermann Trophy winner, and Duke’s Cameron Roller, the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Notre Dame’s Izzy Engle, last year’s ACC Freshman of the Year, also made the list.
Eight ACC teams appear in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, tying for the most of any conference. North Carolina, Notre Dame, Florida State and Duke hold the top four spots nationally.
The 2025 season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 14, with all 17 ACC teams in action. The opening slate is headlined by No. 11 Penn State visiting No. 4 Duke at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
2025 Preseason ACC Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll
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North Carolina (10), 246
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Notre Dame (2), 229
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Florida State (4), 225
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Duke, 208
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Stanford, 201
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Wake Forest, 172
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Virginia (1), 169
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Virginia Tech, 162
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Clemson, 132
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California, 124
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Pitt, 111
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SMU, 83
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Boston College, 81
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Louisville, 67
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Miami, 44
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NC State, 40
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Syracuse, 18
2025 Preseason All-ACC Team
Teagan Wy, Sr., GK, California
Mia Minestrella, Jr., F, Duke
Mia Oliaro, Jr., M, Duke
Cameron Roller, Jr., D, Duke
Jordynn Dudley, Jr., F, Florida State
Heather Gilchrist, Sr., D, Florida State
Tessa Dellarose, Sr., M/D, North Carolina
Kate Faasse, Sr., F/M, North Carolina
Olivia Thomas, Jr., F, North Carolina
Linda Ullmark, So., M, North Carolina
Izzy Engle, So., F, Notre Dame
Leah Klenke, Sr., D/M, Notre Dame
Andrea Kitahata, R-Sr., F, Stanford
Maggie Cagle, Sr., F, Virginia
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