STANFORD, Calif. — With the 2026 campaign on the horizon, Stanford lacrosse earned multiple preseason honors ahead of its second season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the conference announced its preseason poll and awards on Tuesday.
Stanford, which was picked fifth in last season’s preseason coaches poll ahead of its debut in the conference, is slotted third overall ahead of the 2026 campaign, only 10 points behind second place Boston College who registered 153 points among the conference’s 13 coaches. North Carolina - which won the national championship a season ago - was ranked as the unanimous conference favorite.
The Cardinal also earned two Preseason All-ACC team members for the second-consecutive season with Aliya Polisky and Ava Arceri being tabbed to the team. Polisky, who finished as an All-ACC First Team selection a season ago was listed as one of three attackers while Arceri was tabbed as an At-Large selection. Arceri finished the 2025 campaign having been named to the All-ACC Third Team.
Multiple teams follow below Stanford including Virginia (118) who slotted fourth and Stanford’s first conference opponent of the season, Clemson, which was picked fifth overall. Stanford takes on eight of the 10 programs ranked below them in the poll with the exception of Pitt, who was picked No. 10, and newcomers Florida State who enter their inaugural season ranked No. 12. Five of those games will take place at Cagan Stadium including Stanford’s home-opener against Syracuse who were picked sixth.
The Cardinal opens the 2026 season on Saturday, February 7 on the road at UC Davis, taking on the Aggies at UC Davis Health Stadium at 1 p.m. Stanford’s first ACC action takes place on the road against Clemson on Saturday, February 14.
2026 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. North Carolina, 169
2. Boston College, 153
3. Stanford, 143
4. Virginia, 118
5. Clemson, 111
6. Duke, 107
7. Syracuse, 104
8. Notre Dame, 80
9. Virginia Tech, 63
10. Pitt, 50
11. Louisville, 36
12. Florida State, 27
13. California, 22
2026 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack
Chloe Humphrey, North Carolina
Aliya Polisky, Stanford
Madison Alaimo, Virginia
Midfield
Natalie Shurtleff, Clemson
Eliza Osburn, North Carolina
Emma Muchnick, Syracuse
Kate Galica, Virginia
Defense
Shea Baker, Boston College
Sam Forrest, North Carolina
Brooklyn Walker-Welch, North Carolina
Goalkeeper
Shea Dolce, Boston College
Draw Specialist
Kate Galica, Virginia
At-Large
Molly Driscoll, Boston College
Kayla MacLeod, Clemson
Bella Goodwin, Duke
Madison Rassas, Notre Dame
Ava Arceri, Stanford
Coco Vandiver, Syracuse