UVA women’s soccer picked second in ACC in preseason poll

The preseason accolades continued to roll in for the Virginia women’s soccer team as seniors Makenzy Doniak and Emily Sonnett were tabbed for preseason All-ACC honors by the league coaches, the Atlantic Coast Conference office announced on Thursday.

The Cavaliers were picked to finish second in the ACC in the preseason poll voted on by the league’s coaches, receiving a total of 178 points and one first-place vote. Florida State was picked to win the league title after claiming the national championship last season.

Doniak paced the ACC last season with 20 goals and 51 points, setting the single-season mark for points at Virginia. Doniak also set the single-game mark for points with eight against the Kentucky Wildcats in an NCAA Tournament match on the way to a second consecutive College Cup appearance and a berth in the national championship match. The forward is a two-time All-ACC first team selection and earned first team All-America honors from the NSCAA for a second straight season in 2014. Doniak was also a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy for the second consecutive season and is named to the watch list for the award for the upcoming season.

Sonnett anchored a stout Cavalier defense last season, helping Virginia hold opponents to 0.62 goals against on the year and earned third team All-America honors from thea NSCAA as well as being named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the College Cup in 2014. Sonnett helped Virginia post 12 shutouts on the season and scored five goals, including the game-winner against Texas A&M in the semifinals of the College Cup to put the Cavaliers in the national championship match.

Virginia is currently wrapping up fall camp in Michigan and will play an exhibition match against Illinois on Friday, August 14, at 1 p.m. ET before returning home to host Maryland in a second exhibition match on Monday, August 17, at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers are ranked second nationally in the preseason poll released by the NSCAA and will open the 2015 season against UNC Wilmington at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, at Klöckner Stadium.