Virginia Men's Lacrosse Picked No. 1 in ACC Preseason Coaches Poll

UVA is the favorite to win the ACC for the second-straight season and five Cavaliers were selected Preseason All-ACC

The Cavaliers continue to rack up No. 1 rankings and preseason accolades ahead of the 2023 men's lacrosse season. The results of the ACC men's lacrosse preseason coaches poll were released on Tuesday afternoon and Virginia was selected No. 1 in a vote by the conference's five head coaches. 

UVA received 23 total points as the preseason favorite to win the ACC for the second-straight year, edging out Notre Dame with 21 points. Duke (14), North Carolina (9), and Syracuse (8) rounded out the preseason coaches poll.

2023 Men's Lacrosse ACC Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Virginia (23)
2. Notre Dame (21)
3. Duke (14)
4. North Carolina (9)
5. Syracuse (8)

Additionally, UVA led all ACC teams with five players selected to the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team. Connor Shellenberger (attack), Jeff Conner (midfield), Cole Kastner (defense), Cade Saustad (defense), and Petey LaSalla (face-off) were all Preseason All-ACC selections. 

That should come as no surprise given the amount of talent the Cavaliers brought back from a team that won the ACC title for the 19th time in program history and dominated the ACC awards at the end of the season in 2022. Cole Kastner was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Matthew Nunes was the ACC Freshman of the Year, while Lars Tiffany was voted the ACC Coach of the Year. Virginia also placed five players on the 2022 Men's Lacrosse All-ACC Team: Connor Shellenberger, Matt Moore, Jeff Conner, Cole Kastner, and Petey LaSalla. Of that group, only Matt Moore is not returning for the 2023 season. 

2023 Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-ACC Team

Attack
Pat Kavanagh, Sr., Notre Dame
Brennan O’Neill, Jr., Duke
Connor Shellenberger, R-Jr., Virginia

Midfield
Jeff Conner, Gr., Virginia
Eric Dobson, Jr., Notre Dame
Andrew McAdorey, So., Duke

Defense
Kenny Brower, Sr., Duke
Cole Kastner, Jr., Virginia
Cade Saustad, R-Sr., Virginia

Goalie: Liam Entenmann, Sr., Notre Dame
Face-off: Petey LaSalla, Gr., Virginia
Long-stick midfielder: Tyler Carpenter, Sr., Duke
Short-stick midfielder: Conner Maher, Gr., North Carolina

Virginia, which was also voted as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation in both the Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason polls, will open the 2023 season on February 11th, when the Cavaliers host Michigan at Klockner Stadium at 12pm. 

See more Virginia men's lacrosse news and content: Virginia Men's Lacrosse on Sports Illustrated

See more Virginia sports news and content: Virginia Cavaliers on Sports Illustrated

To stay up to date on all Virginia Cavaliers sports news, follow CavaliersNow on social media:

Facebook: @CavaliersNow
Twitter: @CavaliersNowFN