Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Field Hockey Ranked 15th in Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Poll
August 25, 2015 | Field Hockey
COMPLETE 2015 PENN MONTO/NFHCA PRESEASON POLL
PRINCETON, N.J. – Fresh off a 10th-consecutive Ivy League title, the Princeton University field hockey team will open its 2015 campaign ranked 15th in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I Preseason Poll.
Two-time defending champion UConn claimed the top slot with 1,060 points and 27 first-place votes, followed by North Carolina (1,042) and perennial power Maryland (999). Syracuse (973) and Duke (837) rounded out the top-five.
Stanford University (646) was slotted sixth, with Albany and Penn State tying for seventh with 606 points. Virginia ranked ninth (550), with Northwestern (543), Wake Forest (531), Louisville (451), Boston College (439), and Michigan (378) coming in 10th through 14th.
The only Ivy squad to earn a national ranking, Princeton was 15th with 374 points, edging out Old Dominion (349). Iowa (225), UMass (197), Michigan State (189), and Boston University rounded out the top-20.
Once again playing a challenging schedule, the Tigers will face six teams ranked in the preseason poll and six programs that earned NCAA Tournament berths a year ago. Combined, Princeton's 10 non-conference opponents this season posted a 148-63 (.701) record in 2014.
The Tigers open the 2015 season against No. 2 North Carolina on Friday, Sept. 4. Game time on Bedford Field is set for 4 p.m. Princeton will also host No. 9 Virginia during its opening weekend (Sept. 6).