ACC: Men’s and Women’s Soccer 2025 Season Preview

Photo: Jaylynn Nash

*Records are in-conference only*

Boston College

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 13th in the ACC (1-4-3, 6 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Binghamton at Boston College – 8/21
  • Siena at Boston College – 8/25
  • Boston College at Providence – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ask Ekeland – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named Second Team All-ACC last season with 10 GCs (8g/2a)

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 10th in the ACC (4-4-2, 14 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Stonehill at Boston College – 8/14
  • FDU at Boston College – 8/17
  • Cornell at Boston College – 8/22
  • Boston College at Illinois – 8/25
  • UAlbany at Boston College – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Amalia Dray – Sophomore – Defender
    • Led Boston College in minutes as a freshman in 2024

California

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 12th in the ACC (2-4-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • California at Saint Mary’s – 8/21
  • California at UCLA – 8/24
  • San Francisco at California – 8/28
  • UC San Diego at California – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Malcolm Zalayet – Sophomore – Forward/Midfielder
    • Had 8 GCs (4g/4a) as a freshman in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 7th in the ACC (5-4-1, 16 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • California at UC San Diego – 8/14
  • California at Cal State Fullerton – 8/17
  • San Francisco at California – 8/21
  • Pepperdine at California – 8/24
  • California at Utah Valley – 8/28
  • Arizona at California – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Teagan Wy – Senior – Goalkeeper
    • Second Team All-ACC and Olympic bronze medal winner with Team USA in 2024

Clemson

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 2nd in the ACC (5-2-1, 16 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Clemson at Indiana – 8/21
  • South Carolina at Clemson – 8/26
  • UAB at Clemson – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ransford Gyan – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • ACC Freshman of the Year in 2024 with 11 GCs (5g/6a)

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 14th in the ACC (2-7-1, 7 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Clemson at Ohio State – 8/14
  • Clemson at Ohio – 8/17
  • Clemson at Virginia Tech – 8/21
  • South Carolina at Clemson – 8/28
  • Appalachian State at Clemson – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Kendall Bodak – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • Led the Tigers in points (9) as a freshman in 2024

Duke

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the ACC (4-1-3, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • San Diego at Duke – 8/21
  • UC San Diego at Duke – 8/24
  • Duke at Furman – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ulfur Bjornsson – Junior – Forward
    • First Team All-ACC with 13 goals in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 1st in the ACC (9-0-1, 28 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Penn St at Duke – 8/14
  • Northwestern at Duke – 8/21
  • Duke at Arkansas – 8/28
  • Creighton at Duke – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Cameron Roller – Junior – Defender
    • ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2024

Louisville

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 15th in the ACC (0-5-3, 3 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Southern Indiana at Louisville – 8/21
  • Louisville at UAB – 8/25
  • IU Indy at Louisville – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Leon Kondic – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • Led the Cardinals in assists (5) with only 4 starts as a freshman in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 12th in the ACC (2-5-3, 9 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Louisville at Auburn – 8/14
  • Louisville at Vanderbilt – 8/17
  • Detroit Mercy at Louisville – 8/21
  • Wright State at Louisville – 8/24
  • USC Upstate at Louisville – 8/28
  • Coastal Carolina at Louisville – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Mackenzie Geigle – Senior – Forward
    • Led Louisville in goals (7) and goal contributions (10) in 2024

Florida State

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the ACC (7-2-1, 22 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Florida at Florida State – 8/14
  • FIU at Florida State – 8/17
  • Florida State at Kansas – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Jordynn Dudley – Junior – Forward
    • Earned All-ACC First Team honors with 20 GCs (9g/11a) in 2024

Miami 

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 15th in the ACC (1-6-3, 6 points) 
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Miami at UNC Asheville – 8/14
  • Miami at Appalachian State – 8/17
  • Florida Atlantic at Miami – 8/21
  • Jacksonville at Miami – 8/24
  • Lipscomb at Miami – 8/27 
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Giovana Canali – Sophomore – Forward
    • Earned ACC All-Freshman honors in 2024

Notre Dame

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 10th in the ACC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Notre Dame at Michigan – 8/21
  • IU Indy at Notre Dame – 8/24
  • Oregon State at Notre Dame – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • KK Baffour – Senior – Midfielder
    • 2nd most assists (5) for Fighting Irish in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 6th in the ACC (5-1-4, 19 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Western Michigan at Notre Dame – 8/14
  • Notre Dame at Arkansas – 8/17
  • Cincinnati at Notre Dame – 8/21
  • Michigan at Notre Dame – 8/28
  • Oakland at Notre Dame – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Izzy Engle – Sophomore – Midfielder/Forward
    • Earned All-ACC First Team honors as a freshman with 19 goals in 2024

North Carolina

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 6th in the ACC (4-3-1, 13 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • UCF at North Carolina – 8/21
  • Seattle at North Carolina – 8/24
  • Evansville at North Carolina – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Bertil Hansen – Sophomore – Forward
    • Had 5 GCs in 571 minutes last year, has the opportunity to increase minutes as 2024 starters graduated.

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the ACC (7-3-0, 21 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • North Carolina at Tennessee – 8/14
  • Siena at North Carolina – 8/17
  • North Carolina at Georgia – 8/21
  • Rice at North Carolina – 8/24
  • UNC Greensboro at North Carolina – 8/28
  • Wisconsin-Milwaukee at North Carolina – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Kate Faasse – Senior – Forward/Midfielder
    • 2024 Hermann Trophy winner, finished season with 24 GCs (20g/4a) 

NC State

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 9th in the ACC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Queens at NC State – 8/21
  • Wofford at NC State – 8/24
  • FIU at NC State – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Niko Markovic – Sophomore – Defender
    • Earned ACC All-Freshman honors in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 16th in the ACC (1-6-3, 6 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • James Madison at NC State – 8/14
  • NC State at East Carolina – 8/17
  • NC State at Michigan State – 8/21
  • NC State at Davidson – 8/24
  • Western Carolina at NC State – 8/27
  • NC State at Utah – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Mana Nakata – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • Started every game as a freshman and led NC State in assists (3)

Pittsburgh

Men’s 

• 2024 Finish: 1st in the ACC (6-2-0, 18 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Quinnipiac at Pittsburgh – 8/21
  • Michigan State at Pittsburgh – 8/25
  • Pittsburgh at Georgetown – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Casper Svendby – Senior – Defender
    • ACC’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 11th in the ACC (3-5-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Xavier at Pittsburgh – 8/14
  • Pittsburgh at Monmouth – 8/17
  • Ohio at Pittsburgh – 8/21
  • Pittsburgh at Dayton – 8/24
  • Cal State at Pittsburgh – 8/28
  • Santa Clara at Pittsburgh – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Olivia Lee – Junior – Defender
    • Led Pittsburgh in minutes in 2024

SMU

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 5th in the ACC (4-2-2, 14 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Kansas City at SMU – 8/21
  • SMU at Saint Louis – 8/24
  • LMU at SMU – 8/28
  • Oral Roberts at SMU – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Milton Lopez – Junior – Forward
    • Tied for 2nd in goals (6) in 2024 for SMU

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 13th in the ACC (2-6-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • SMU at Wake Forest – 8/14
  • Northwestern State at SMU – 8/17
  • SMU at North Texas – 8/21
  • Southern at SMU – 8/24
  • SMU at Texas Tech – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Nyah Rose – Junior – Forward
    • Earned All-ACC Third Team honors in 2024

Stanford

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 7th in the ACC (3-2-3, 12 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Sacramento State at Stanford – 8/21
  • Denver at Stanford – 8/24
  • Stanford at Santa Clara – 8/28
  • UC Davis at Stanford – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Zach Bohane – Senior – Midfielder
    • Earned All-ACC First Team honors in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 8th in the ACC (5-4-1, 16 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • San Francisco at Stanford – 8/14
  • Santa Clara at Stanford – 8/17
  • San Diego State at Stanford – 8/21
  • St. Mary’s at Stanford – 8/24
  • Arizona at Stanford – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Mia Bhuta – Junior – Midfielder
    • Earned All-ACC Second Team honors in 2024

Syracuse

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 11th in the ACC (2-4-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • UConn at Syracuse – 8/21
  • Syracuse at Loyola – 8/24
  • Penn State at Syracuse – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Chimere Omeze – Sophomore – Defender
    • Earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 17th in the ACC (0-9-1, 1 point)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Charleston Southern at Syracuse – 8/14
  • Niagara at Syracuse – 8/17
  • Canisius at Syracuse – 8/21
  • Syracuse at Holy Cross – 8/24
  • Syracuse at Quinnipiac – 8/28
  • Syracuse at Princeton – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ashley Rauch – Graduate Student – Midfielder
    • Tied for Syracuse lead in goals (5) in 2024

Virginia

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 8th in the ACC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • San Diego State at Virginia – 8/21
  • Stetson at Virginia – 8/24
  • Virginia at George Mason – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Nick Dang – Senior – Defender
    • Earned All-ACC Second Team honors in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 9th in the ACC (5-5-0, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Virginia at West Virginia – 8/14
  • Xavier at Virginia – 8/21
  • Virginia at Liberty – 8/24
  • Charlotte at Virginia – 8/28
  • Georgetown at Virginia – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Maggie Cagle – Senior – Forward
    • Earned All-ACC Third Team honors in 2024

Virginia Tech

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 14th in the ACC (1-5-2, 5 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Ohio State at Virginia Tech – 8/21
  • Canisius at Virginia Tech – 8/24
  • Virginia Tech at Marshall – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ian Marcano – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • Led Virginia Tech with 7 GCs (2g/5a) in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 5th in the ACC (6-2-2, 20 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Virginia Tech at High Point – 8/14
  • VCU at Virginia Tech – 8/17
  • Clemson at Virginia Tech – 8/21
  • Georgetown at Virginia Tech – 8/24
  • Virginia Tech at Liberty – 8/28
  • Virginia Tech at Campbell – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Natalie Mitchell – Senior – Forward/Midfielder
    • Led Virginia Tech with 11 GCs (5g/6a) in 2024

Wake Forest

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the ACC (4-2-2, 14 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Maryland at Wake Forest – 8/21
  • UCF at Wake Forest – 8/24
  • Oral Roberts at Wake Forest – 8/28
  • St. John’s at Wake Forest – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Cooper Flax – Senior – Midfielder
    • Earned All-ACC Second Team honors in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 2nd in the ACC (7-2-1, 22 points)
• 2025 August Schedule
  • Texas Tech at Wake Forest – 8/14
  • LSU at Wake Forest – 8/17
  • Villanova at Wake Forest – 8/21
  • Wake Forest at Mississippi State – 8/24
  • USF at Wake Forest – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Valentina Amaral – Redshirt Sophomore – Goalkeeper
    • Earned All-ACC Third Team honors in 2024