Godfrey, Spaanstra earn preseason All-ACC accolades; UVA picked to finish 2nd

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Junior midfielder Lia Godfrey and fifth-year forward Alexa Spaanstra have been named preseason All-ACC selections by the league’s coaches it was announced by the conference on Thursday.

Godfrey is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she earned All-America honors for the second consecutive season. She was an All-ACC first team selection after tallying a team-leading 12 assists and adding three goals for 18 points on the year. It was her second straight season to earn All-ACC honors.

Spaanstra is coming off a senior campaign in which she tallied nine assists and seven goals for 23 points. She earned All-ACC honors for the fourth consecutive year last season and was an All-Region selection for the third time in her career. She is currently seventh all-time in Virginia history with 29 career assists.

CAVALIERS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL

Virginia was picked to finish second in the standings as both the preseason order of finish and All-ACCC teams were determined by a vote of the league’s coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own team or players in the process.

The Cavaliers received 153 total points in the voting, but tied with North Carolina for the most first-place votes with four. Duke was picked to win the league with 156 total points accumulated in the voting.

Virginia is ranked fourth nationally in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll. The Cavaliers open the 2022 season at home against George Mason on Thursday, Aug. 18. Tickets are on sale now at www.UVATix.com.

2022 ACC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Duke (3), 156
2. Virginia (4), 153
3. North Carolina (4), 150
4. Florida State (3), 143
5. Clemson, 115
6. Notre Dame, 108
T7. NC State, 90
T7. Wake Forest, 90
9. Virginia Tech, 79
10. Pitt, 66
11. Louisville, 47
12. Boston College, 36
13. Miami, 21
14. Syracuse, 20
First-place votes in parentheses

2022 Women’s Soccer Preseason All-ACC Team
Megan Bornkamp, Jr., D, Clemson
Michelle Cooper, So., F, Duke
Sophie Jones, Sr., M, Duke
Jenna Nighswonger, Sr., M, Florida State
Clara Robbins, Gr., M, Florida State
Cristina Roque, Jr., GK, Florida State
Maycee Bell, Sr., D, North Carolina
Sam Meza, Jr., M, North Carolina
Jameese Joseph, Jr., F, NC State
Korbin Albert, So., M, Notre Dame
Lia Godfrey, Jr., M, Virginia
Alexa Spaanstra, Sr., F, Virginia