THREE CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAMS RANKED AMONG NATION?S TOP 20 IN PRESEASON POLL

THREE CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAMS RANKED AMONG NATION?S TOP 20 IN PRESEASON POLL

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RICHMOND, Va. (August 24, 2010) - Three CAA field hockey squads - Drexel, James Madison and Old Dominion - will open the 2010 season ranked in the Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I Preseason Poll. The Dragons earned the highest ranking among the league squads at No. 11, with JMU and ODU ranked just behind at No. 12 and No. 16, respectively.

After finishing the 2009 season ranked 10th nationally, Drexel begins its 2010 campaign ranked for the first time in program history. The Dragons return eight starters from last season's 19-4 team that reached the conference championship game and the second round of the NCAA Championships. The squad will be led by senior forwards and 2009 All-Americans Christina Mastropaolo and Susan Ciufo, who combined for 50 goals last season, the most of any pair in Division I returning this season. Also back in the Dragon lineup are junior back and CAA Defensive Player of the Year Sofia Sanguinetti and First Team All-CAA midfielder Kim Tunell.

JMU returns six starters from its squad that ended 2009 with a 12-8 record and a No. 12 national ranking. Leading the charge for the Dukes are First Team All-CAA senior midfielder Dolores de Rooij and CAA All-Rookie forward Tori Lindsey, who each recorded 13 goals last season. Highlighting a defense that limited opponents to a mere 1.60 goals per game in 2009 are senior Amy Daniel and junior Lindsay Cutchins.

13-time CAA champion Old Dominion welcomes back seven starters this season. Among this list is senior forward Kathryn Kirk, whose nine goals in 2009 were a team high. She will be joined by senior midfielder Loran Hatch, who tallied seven goals and seven assists last season, and 2009 CAA All-Rookie midfielder Julie Hodge.

Delaware, Northeastern, Hofstra, VCU and William & Mary also received votes in the preseason poll.

 

2010 KOOKABURRA/NFHCA DIVISION I PRESEASON POLL
1. University of North Carolina  1072 (25)
2. University of Maryland  1053 (22)
3. University of Virginia  969 (2)
4. Princeton University  943 (7)
5. University of Connecticut  769
6. Wake Forest University  750
7. Michigan State University  744
8. Syracuse University  712
9. Boston College  456
10. Duke University  443
11. Drexel University  439
12. James Madison University  396
13. University of Louisville  308
14. Ohio State University  286
15. American University  247
16. Old Dominion University  234
17. Indiana University  227
18. Penn State University  211
19. University of Iowa  181
20. Stanford University  166