Aug. 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a Big Ten Championship season, the Penn State field hockey begins 2009 ranked No. 11 in the preseason Kookaburra/NFHCA Coaches Poll as announced on Tuesday. The Nittany Lions, who concluded last season in the same position, have 10 opponents ranked in the top-20.
In 2008, Penn State held steady between No. 6 and 14, beginning sixth before falling to as low as 14 before riding its nine-game midseason win streak back to No. 8.
In total, 10 of the Lions' 2009 opponents garnered a preseason national ranking, including six of the top nine: Maryland (1), Connecticut (5), Virginia (6), Princeton (7), Michigan State (8), Iowa (9), American (14), Old Dominion (16), Ohio State (18) and Michigan (19). Other opponents, Northwestern, Indiana, Lock Haven, Bucknell and Stanford all received votes as well.
Five of the seven Big Ten squads were ranked in the top-20, second most of any conference behind the ACC. The other two teams - Indiana and Northwestern - received votes, effectively ranked 26th and 27th, respectively.
The Nittany Lions open regular season play on Friday at No. 16 Old Dominion before traveling to Virginia to face the No. 6 Cavaliers on Sunday. Check back to GoPSUsports.com for continued updates as Penn State prepares to open its 45th anniversary season.