Aug. 22, 2017
NFHCA RELEASE
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State field hockey team opens the 2017 season ranked No. 7 in the nation, as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll released its national preseason rankings Tuesday afternoon.
North Carolina earned the No. 1 spot in the preseason poll with 1,137 points and 14 first-place votes, while Duke was right behind with 1,081 points and 15 first-place votes.
Defending national champion Delaware checks in at No. 3 in the preseason ranking with 1,003 points and seven first-place votes and was followed closely by Connecticut with 993 points and four first-place votes and Syracuse with 978 points to round out the top five.
The Nittany Lions at No. 7 are the second highest Big Ten team in the ranking right behind Maryland who checks in at No. 6.
Penn State is slated to compete against nine of the teams that are listed in the preseason poll, including the defending National Champion Delaware Blue Hens.
The Big Ten is represented by five teams in the poll including No. 6 Maryland, No. 7 Penn State, No. 11 Michigan, No. 14 Northwestern and No. 17 Iowa.
The Nittany Lions return seven starters from the 2016 season and welcome four newcomers to the program for the 2017 season.
Admission is free for all fans at Penn State Field Hockey Complex during the regular season.
For more on Nittany Lion Field Hockey, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @PennStateFH, and on Facebook at PennStateFieldHockey.