ACC soccer teams to have seasons delayed until at least September 1

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will push back the fall soccer season until at least September 1, amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

All ACC men’s and women’s soccer programs won’t be able to play their usual August exhibition games and non-conference regular season matches. The ACC’s restrictions will apply to all Olympic Sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

In the meantime, teams will be able to continue their respective return-to-play protocols. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the Ivy League becoming the first NCAA Division I conference to cancel their entire fall sports season.

On the men’s soccer side, the ACC features the following 12 programs: Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State, Louisville, Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia, Pitt, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Duke.

There are 14 women’s soccer teams in the ACC: North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, Louisville, NC State, Duke, Clemson, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Miami, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Boston College.

See below for the full statement released today by the ACC:

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that each of its fall Olympic Sports will delay the start of competition until at least September 1. The decision allows each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process.

The delay in competition includes all exhibition and non-conference games in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

The decision was unanimously approved by the ACC Board of Directors.

ACC institutions will continue with their respective return to competition protocols in anticipation of a fall season. Any rescheduling of contests will also be determined by each school.

The league continues to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fall schedules and competitions with the understanding that there may be future changes, and that the priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes.