Aug. 3, 2017
By Megan Golden
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its preseason all-conference team and the ACC Coaches Poll on Thursday. Two University of Notre Dame women’s soccer players were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team, highlighting an Irish squad predicted to finish fifth in the conference.
Graduate student Sandra Yu and sophomore Jennifer Westendorf highlight the Preseason All-ACC Team, leaving the Irish tied with North Carolina for the second-most selections. Notre Dame and North Carolina trail only Florida State’s four All-ACC Team members.
Yu, a midfielder from Strongsville, Ohio, tallied four points on two goals in 21 games last season. Yu, who was named to the 2016 All-ACC Third Team, recorded a .467 shots-on-goal percentage last season.
Westendorf, a 2016 All-ACC Freshman Team and All-ACC Second Team member, turned in an impressive 2016 season for the Irish as she led the team in goals (6) and tied for the team lead with 13 points.
Notre Dame finished its 2016 conference slate at the top of the ACC. The No. 1 seed Irish advanced to the ACC Semifinals before falling, 2-1, to No. 4 North Carolina.
The Irish open their 2017 exhibition schedule against Purdue at 4 p.m. ET on August 9 at Alumni Stadium.
For behind-the-scenes coverage of the Irish women’s soccer program, follow @NDSoccer on Twitter and NDWSoccer on Instagram. For tickets to a Notre Dame women’s soccer match, click here.
Preseason All-ACC Team
Cassie Miller, R-Sr., GK, Florida State
Sam Staab, Jr., D, Clemson
Rebecca Quinn, Sr., D, Duke
Natalia Kuikka, Jr., D, Florida State
Megan Connolly, Jr., M, Florida State
Sandra Yu, GS, M, Notre Dame
Deyna Castellanos, So., F, Florida State
Jessie Scarpa, Jr., F, North Carolina
Bridgette Adrezjewski, So., F, North Carolina
Jennifer Westendorf, So., F, Notre Dame
Veronica Latsko, Sr., F, Virginia
Preseason ACC Coaches Poll
1. Florida State (186 points, 8 first place votes)
2. North Carolina (172, 2)
3. Duke (170, 1)
4. Virginia (160, 2)
5. Notre Dame (145, 1)
6. Clemson (120)
7. NC State (104)
8. Virginia Tech (91)
9. Wake Forest (72)
10. Boston College (71)
11. Miami (65)
12. Louisville (63)
13. Syracuse (33)
14. Pitt (18)
–ND–
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 soccer 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.