CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Penn State field hockey team will enter the season ranked seventh in the country, according to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's (NFHCA) 2015 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll.
The Nittany Lions tied with Albany in the poll voted upon by head coaches. The Lions' season-opening opponents both cracked the poll's Top 20, as Old Dominion (Aug. 28) ranks 16th and Virginia (Aug. 30) ranks ninth.
A total of six Big Ten teams ranked in the poll's top 20. Maryland led the league ranking third and garnering 11 first-place votes, while Northwestern trailed the Lions in 10th and was followed by Michigan (14), Iowa (17) and Michigan State (19). Non-conference opponent Princeton ranked 15th, giving the Lions a total of eight ranked opponents on their 17-game regular season schedule.
Penn State is coming off its fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance and 30th in the 33 years of NCAA field hockey. The squad is welcoming 10 freshmen and returning just three starters after losing eight to graduation.
Penn State opens the season with a pair of games in Virginia, traveling to Old Dominion in Norfolk for the opener at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 and also visiting Charlottesville to take on Virginia at noon on Aug. 30. The Lions will return to the Penn State Field Hockey Complex to open the home slate at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.
Defending national champion Connecticut earned the top ranking, totaling 27 first-place votes. North Carolina followed in second with 12 first-place votes. Fourth-ranked Syracuse (seven first-place votes), Duke and Stanford followed in order to round out the top six.