Wake Forest Athletics
Pluta Named Preseason All-ACC
8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeHockey)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Nicola Pluta of Wake Forest field hockey was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
Pluta, a sophomore forward from Moenchengladbach, Germany, is fresh off a stellar freshman campaign that saw her lead the Deacs with 17 goals and finish second on the team with 41 points. For her outstanding work, she collected ACC Freshman of the Year honors. In earning that award, she became the first Demon Deacon to accomplish the feat since Anna Kozniuk in 2011.
In addition to winning freshman of the year, Pluta made the All-ACC First Team. On the national scale, she was selected as a Third Team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
The league office also announced the Deacs were predicted to finish sixth in the ACC this season. However, the team earned a no. 15 national ranking in the preseason poll released by the NFHCA. In 2016, the team finished with an 11-8 overall record, thanks to strong work in nonconference competition.
The Deacs open the regular season next Saturday, Aug. 26 at Iowa at 3 p.m. as part of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. North Carolina (1) - 31
2. Duke (2) - 27
2. Syracuse (1) - 27
4. Louisville (1) - 22
5. Virginia (1) - 21
6. Wake Forest - 12
7. Boston College - 7
Preseason All-ACC Team:
Frederique Haverhals, Jr., B/M, Boston College
Alyssa Chillano, Sr., B, Duke
Ayeisha McFerran, Jr., GK, Louisville
Minout Mink, So., F, Louisville
Nicole Woods, Sr., F/M, Louisville
Ashley Hoffman, Jr., M/B, North Carolina
Eva van't Hoog, Jr., M, North Carolina
Laura Hurff, Sr., M/F, Syracuse
Roos Weers, Jr., B, Syracuse
Tara Vittese, Sr., M, Virginia
Nicola Pluta, So., F, Wake Forest
