Feb. 1, 2017

By Megan Golden

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Atlantic Coast Conference revealed its preseason poll on Wednesday, featuring the No. 8-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team at No. 3 in the conference. The ACC also announced that Cortney Fortunato and Casey Pearsall each were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team.

Notre Dame finds itself third in the league standings following its 4-3 conference record last season. The Irish finished third in the conference in regular-season play in 2016.

Fortunato, who is a two-time All-ACC selection, surpassed her own 2015 record of 56 goals in a single season with 64 goals as a junior, moving to fourth place in Irish history. She owns the second-most career goals of any Irish player in program history (166).

Pearsall earned All-ACC honors last season after collecting 30 goals and 22 assists. Her 122 career draw controls rank seventh in Irish history.

Notre Dame is one of three schools, including North Carolina and Syracuse, to have at least two student-athletes named to the Preseason All-ACC roster. Due to a tie, 13 players received recognition.

Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina (63)
2. Syracuse (52)
3. Notre Dame (50)
4. Duke (37)
T5. Boston College (29)
T5. Virginia (29)
7. Louisville (20)
8. Virginia Tech (8)

All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team
Molly Hendrick, Sr., A, North Carolina
Sammy Jo Tracy, Sr., A, North Carolina
Cortney Fortunato, Sr., A, Notre Dame
Riley Donahue, Jr., A, Syracuse
Maddie Crutchfield, Jr., M, Duke
Marie McCool, Jr., M, North Carolina
Maggie Bill, Sr., M, North Carolina
Casey Pearsall, Sr., M, Notre Dame
Steph McNamara, Sr., D, Louisville
Maggie Auslander, Sr., D, North Carolina
Kaeli O’Connor, Sr., D, Syracuse
Maggie Preas, Sr., D, Virginia
Caylee Waters, Sr., G, North Carolina

Up Next

The Irish return to action against No. 9 Northwestern at 1 p.m. ET on February 5 at Loftus Sports Center. Admission is free for all fans.

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Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse and cross country/track and field programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.