Godfrey, Spaanstra named Preseason All-ACC Selections

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Sophomore midfielder Lia Godfrey and senior forward Alexa Spaanstra have been named to the preseason All-ACC team it was announced by the league office on Thursday.

Godfrey is coming off a freshman campaign that saw her earn second-team All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches and ACC Freshman of the Year honors from the league’s coaches. She led the ACC in assists (9), added four goals and finished the season with a  total of 17 points in 21 games played.

Spaanstra was named an All-ACC first team selection last season after finishing second on the team with 22 points. She tallied 10 goals and two assists in 18 games played. Four of her goals were game-winning goals. She also earned All-Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches and was named to the ACC All-Tournament team at the ACC Championships. Spaanstra is a three-time All-ACC honoree and has twice earned All-Region honors.

2021 Women’s Soccer Preseason All-ACC Team

• Megan Bornkamp, Clemson, So., M
• Hensley Hancuff, Clemson, Sr., GK
• Delaney Graham, Duke, Sr., D
• Sophie Jones, Duke, Jr., M
• Jaelin Howell, Florida State, Sr., M
• Yujie Zhao, Florida State, Sr., M
• Maycee Bell, North Carolina, Jr., D
• Rachel Jones, North Carolina, Sr., F/M
• Amanda West, Pitt, So., F
• Lia Godfrey, Virginia, So., M
• Alexa Spaanstra, Virginia, Sr., F/M

‘Hoos picked third in preseason poll

Virginia was also picked to finish third in the standings as both the predicted order of finish and the preseason All-ACC team were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own team in the process. The Cavaliers received a total of 148 points and one first place vote. Florida State was picked to win the league with a total of 167 points and 11 first-place votes.

The Cavaliers are ranked fourth nationally in the preseason poll by the United Soccer Coaches and are coming off an appearance in the College Cup last season. Virginia went 14-4-3 on the way to that College Cup appearance and was one of three ACC teams to advance to the national semifinal. It was the third College Cup in the past eight seasons for the Cavaliers.

Virginia opens the 2021 season on Thursday, August 19 when the Cavaliers host Richmond in a 7 p.m. match at Klöckner Stadium.

2021 ACC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Florida State – 167 (11 First-Place Votes)
2. North Carolina – 155 (2)
3. Virginia – 148 (1)
4. Duke – 129
5. Clemson – 124
6. Notre Dame – 104
7. Virginia Tech – 85
8. Louisville – 77
9. Wake Forest – 72
10. NC State – 71
11. Pitt – 57
12. Boston College – 45
13. Syracuse – 24
14. Miami – 16