ACC Soccer News and Notes
- Wake Forest is the consensus No. 1 ranked team by both the United Soccer Coaches and Soccer America for the second straight week. The ACC has seven teams ranked in both polls this week (No. 1/1 Wake Forest, No. 2/6 Duke, No. 5/3 North Carolina, No. 7/4 Louisville, No. 8/7 NC State, No. 10/11 Virginia, and No. 12/23 Notre Dame). Clemson is No. 17 in the Soccer America poll and Virginia Tech is No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches poll giving the ACC a total of nine ranked teams this week.
- ACC play begins this week and includes three Top 25 match-ups – No. 8/7 NC State at No. 1/1 Wake Forest and No. 21/- Virginia Tech at No. 10/11 Virignia on Friday, Sept. 7, and No. 2/6 Duke at No. 7/5 Louisville on Sunday, Sept. 9.
- NC State midfielder Gabriel Machado was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week for August 27 – September 2 after helping the Wolfpack to two wins during this span, scoring the match-winning goals in 2-0 victories at No. 4 Akron and versus Presbyterian. He was also named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 3.
- The ACC owns seven wins over non-ACC teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll, including Wake Forest’s win over No. 2 Indiana and NC State’s victory at No. 4 Akron.
- The ACC is coming off a 2017 season in which it sent an NCAA-record nine teams to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year, with four teams advancing to the Sweet 16 and three to the Elite Eight. North Carolina advanced to the College Cup to mark the 17th straight year at least one ACC team has reached that stage.
- North Carolina was selected as the league favorite to win the 2018 ACC Championship. The Tar Heels were also picked to win the Coastal Division, while Wake Forest was selected as the Atlantic Division favorite.
- Two ACC men’s soccer players are on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list: North Carolina senior defender Alex Comsia and Clemson senior goalkeeper Jonny Sutherland. An ACC player has claimed soccer’s top honor 19 times, including the past two winners – Wake Forest’s Jon Bakero and Ian Harkes.
- All 12 teams will compete in the ACC Championship. The tournament will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 31 with first-round games. The quarterfinals are set for Sunday, Nov. 4, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 7, and the championship match on Sunday, Nov. 11. The first three rounds will be held on the campus of the higher seeded team, and the title game will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 7
RV/17 Clemson at Boston College – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
8/7 NC State at 1/1 Wake Forest – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
12/23 Notre Dame at Syracuse – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
21/- Virginia Tech at 10/11 Virginia – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
Saturday, Sept. 8
Pitt at 5/3 North Carolina – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
Sunday, Sept. 9
RV/17 Clemson at UMass – 1 p.m.
2/6 Duke at 7/5 Louisville – 2 p.m. | ACCN Extra
Monday, Sept. 10
Syracuse at Cornell – 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Holy Cross at Boston College – 5 p.m. | ACCN Extra
5/3 North Carolina at Davidson – 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Quinnipiac at 8/7 NC State – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
4/2 Indiana at 12/23 Notre Dame – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
Pitt at VCU – 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Marshall at 10/11 Virginia – 7 p.m. | ACCN Extra
21/- Virginia Tech at UNC Greensboro – 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgia Southern at 1/1 Wake Forest – 7 p.m.
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