Cavaliers picked to finish fourth in ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Virginia women’s lacrosse junior midfielder Kate Galica and junior attacker Madison Alaimo were named to the 2026 Preseason All-ACC team as announced Tuesday by the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Galica was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team in both the midfield and draw specialist categories. Alaimo was named as one of three in the attack category.
Additionally, the team was voted fourth in the preseason coaches poll. Reigning national champion North Carolina is the top pick to repeat as ACC Champions.
Galica was a consensus All-American last year, earning first-team honors from the IWLCA and Nike Lacrosse. The ACC Midfielder of the Year was among 25 nominees for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award, as well as earning All-ACC First Team honors, setting both the Virginia single-game and single-season records in draw controls.
Galica was also named to the USA Lacrosse All-America first team and was ranked as the No. 5 player in the IL Women’s Top 50 Players preseason rankings.
Alaimo, a preseason second-team USA Lacrosse All-American, was an IWLCA Third-Team All-American last season, leading the team in points while ranking in the top 10 nationally in assists.
Virginia head coach Sonia LaMonica returns for her third season at the helm after guiding her team to a 12-7 mark last season and the second round of the NCAA Championship.
The Cavaliers start the season as a consensus Top 10 team, ranked No. 7 by USA Lacrosse, No. 8 by Inside Lacrosse and No. 10 by the IWLCA.
Head coach Sonia LaMonica is entering her third season with the Cavaliers, leading UVA to being named a No. 5 national seed in each of the last two NCAA Championships. LaMonica’s squad went 12-7 last season, advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
UVA begins its 2026 campaign on Friday, when the team hosts Navy.
2026 ACC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. North Carolina, 169
2. Boston College, 153
3. Stanford, 143
4. Virginia, 118
5. Clemson, 111
6. Duke, 107
7. Syracuse, 104
8. Notre Dame, 80
9. Virginia Tech, 63
10. Pitt, 50
11. Louisville, 36
12. Florida State, 27
13. California, 22
2026 PRESEASON ALL-ACC TEAM
ATTACK
Chloe Humphrey, North Carolina
Aliya Polisky, Stanford
Madison Alaimo, Virginia
MIDFIELD
Natalie Shurtleff, Clemson
Eliza Osburn, North Carolina
Emma Muchnick, Syracuse
Kate Galica, Virginia
DEFENSE
Shea Baker, Boston College
Sam Forrest, North Carolina
Brooklyn Walker-Welch, North Carolina
GOALKEEPER
Shea Dolce, Boston College
DRAW SPECIALIST
Kate Galica, Virginia
AT-LARGE
Molly Driscoll, Boston College
Kayla MacLeod, Clemson
Bella Goodwin, Duke
Madison Rassas, Notre Dame
Ava Arceri, Stanford
Coco Vandiver, Syracuse
