CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – As the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey season begins on Friday, the league once again looks to be the best in the country. The ACC has claimed five of the past six national championships, all belonging to North Carolina.
As the season gets underway, seven teams throughout the nine-team league are ranked in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, including five in the top 10. Reigning back-to-back NCAA Field Hockey National Champions North Carolina leads the way at No. 2, while 2023 national semifinalists Virginia and Duke came in at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Louisville begins the season at No. 7 with Syracuse rounding at the top 10 at No. 10. Boston College earns the No. 17 spot and Wake Forest rounds out the ACC contingent in a tie for 18th.
ACC teams will open the season with seven ranked matches. Friday’s slate will feature four top 20 contests as No. 18 Wake Forest battles No. 6 Iowa at 3 p.m., No. 3 Virginia travels to No. 16 Penn State at 4 p.m., No. 7 Louisville meets No. 4 Maryland on the road at 6 p.m., and No. 2 North Carolina battles No. 12 Michigan at 6 p.m. in Ann Arbor. On Sunday, the ACC will have three more top 20 contests as No. 2 North Carolina faces No. 6 Iowa at 10:30 a.m., No. 10 Syracuse travels to No. 16 Penn State at noon, and No. 18 Wake Forest faces No. 12 Michigan at 2 p.m.
Preseason league favorites Virginia also led the way with four selections to the Preseason All-ACC team with Daniela Mendez Trendler, Jans Croon, Noa Boterman and Tyler Kennedy leading the way. Duke and North Carolina had three selections each, while Boston College, Louisville, Syracuse and Wake Forest each had one selection.
ACC Field Hockey Weekly Schedule
Friday, August 30
William & Mary at No. 5 Duke | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
No. 18 Wake Forest vs. No. 6 Iowa (at Ann Arbor, Mich.) | 3 p.m. | B1G+
No. 10 Syracuse at Lock Haven | 3 p.m. | PSAC-SDN
Stanford vs. Ohio (at Muncie, Ind.) | 3 p.m.
No. 3 Virginia at No. 16 Penn State | 4 p.m. | B1G+
Northeastern at No. 17 Boston College | 5 p.m. | ACCNX
No. 7 Louisville at No. 4 Maryland | 6 p.m. | B1G+
No. 2 North Carolina at No. 12 Michigan | 6 p.m. | B1G+
Sunday, Sept. 1
No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 6 Iowa (at Ann Arbor, Mich.) | 10:30 a.m. | B1G+
UMass Lowell at No. 5 Duke | Noon | ACCNX
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