Virginia lacrosse: Cavaliers third in preseason ACC poll, 2 named All-ACC

Although you'd never know it by the temperatures in Charlottesville the past week, it is technically December. Lost amidst the hullabaloo of Mike London's departure from UVa and Bronco Mendenhall's subsequent arrival, and the annual hyperventilating at the start of basketball season, is one equally exciting fact.

We're less than two months from the start of lacrosse season.

Thankfully the ACC keeps us on our toes, and released today the preseason poll and All-ACC teams as voted on by the conference coaches. Virginia came in third, tied with Syracuse but well behind first-place pick Notre Dame.

Standings

1) Notre Dame (25 points)
2) Duke (15 points)
T3) Virginia (13 points)
T3) Syracuse (13 points)
5) North Carolina (9 points)

The coaches also picked one all-conference squad. Virginia's defensive specialists made the cut, as goalie Matt Barrett and longstick middie Michael Howard both were named preseason All-ACC.

Preseason All-ACC

Attack
Luke Goldstock, Jr., North Carolina
Matt Kavanagh, Sr., Notre Dame
Dylan Donahue, R-Sr., Syracuse

Middie
Deemer Class, Sr., Duke
Myles Jones, Sr., Duke
Sergio Perkovic, Jr., Notre Dame

Defense
Austin Pifani, Jr., North Carolina
Matt Landis, Sr., Notre Dame
Brandon Mullins, R-Sr., Syracuse

Goalie
Matt Barrett, Jr., Virginia

Faceoff
Ben Williams, Jr., Syracuse

LSM
Michael Howard, Jr., Virginia

SSM
Tate Jozokos, Jr., North Carolina

As a sign of just how deep the ACC is, all five ACC teams are ranked in the Inside Lacrosse preseason top 20. Of the 13 players named All-ACC, twelve are Inside Lacrosse All-Americans as well (Luke Goldstock is the lone exception). There are also 11 returning USILA All-Americans among the group.

Virginia's first game is at home against Loyola on February 13th. The Hoos open ACC play at Klockner against Syracuse on March 4th, and the ACC Tournament will be held April 29th and May 1st in Kennesaw, Georgia.