Mueller, Bowen Named Preseason All-ACC
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Seniors Sammy Mueller (Pelham, N.Y.) and Nora Bowen (Lovettsville, Va.) earned Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team honors, the league announced on Tuesday.
Virginia was picked fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll. North Carolina was picked first, Syracuse second, Notre Dame third and Boston College fourth. Virginia Tech (6th), Duke (7th) and Louisville (8th) round out the poll.
Mueller, a preseason All-American, is one of three midfielders on the team. A First Team All-ACC player the last two seasons, she led the Cavaliers with 72 points on 48 goals and 24 assists in 2019. She also picked up 80 draw controls, 57 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers. Mueller enters 2020 eight all-time at UVA with 144 goals and fifth all-time with 175 draw controls.
Bowen was an at-large selection. The attacker had 30 goals and five assists a year ago. Bowen was tied for the team-lead with three game-winning goals. She scored multiple goals in 10 games, including three hat tricks. She had a career-high four goals in the win over Virginia Tech. Bowen also added 17 ground balls, nine caused turnovers and five draw controls.
Virginia will begin the 2020 season on the road, traveling to Navy on Saturday, Feb. 8 at noon.
2020 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. North Carolina, 62
2. Syracuse, 52
3. Notre Dame, 45
4. Boston College, 43
5. Virginia, 35
6. Virginia Tech, 22
7. Duke, 20
8. Louisville, 9
2020 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack: Emily Hawryschuk, Sr., Syracuse
Attack: Katie Hoeg, Sr., North Carolina
Attack: Maddie Howe, Jr., Notre Dame
Attack: Jamie Ortega, Jr., North Carolina
Midfield: Andie Aldave, Jr., Notre Dame
Midfield: Sammy Mueller, Sr., Virginia
Midfield: Paige Petty, Jr., Virginia Tech
Defense: Sarah Cooper, So., Syracuse
Defense: Kerry Defliese, R-Jr., Syracuse
Defense: Emma Trenchard, Jr., North Carolina
Goalie: Taylor Moreno, Jr., North Carolina
At-Large: Caroline Blalock, M, Jr., Louisville
At-Large: Nora Bowen, A, Sr., Virginia
At-Large: Savannah Buchanan, M, Sr., Notre Dame
At-Large: Megan Carney, A, So., Syracuse
At-Large: Charlotte North, A, Jr. Boston College
At-Large: Sheila Rietano, D, Sr., Boston College