Kealsie Robles, ODU Goalkeeper
Early Tests
The 2016 field hockey seasons gets under way this weekend for all eight BIG EAST teams. The squads will combine for 16 total matches, including six against opponents ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association’s (NFHCA) preseason poll. No.3 UConn will square off against No.11 Stanford and No. 20 Old Dominion will tangle with No. 18 Penn State. No.13 Liberty sees a double header against No.19 James Madison and No.4 Duke, while Temple faces No.2 and reigning national champion Syracuse and Quinnipiac opens against No.8 Boston College.The bulk of the weekend’s contests will be played on the road with only six games slated for a BIG EAST team’s home turf.
Preseason Recap
Connecticut was the BIG EAST coaches’ unanimous pick to win the league title this year with junior forward Charlotte Veitner expected to be the conference’s top offensive threat. Defensively, the conference is led by UConn’s senior midfielder Anna Middendorf and Liberty’s senior back Serena Bar. After the Huskies, Liberty claimed second place in the coaches’ poll with 40 points. Old Dominion came in third with 39 points while Temple rounded out the top four with 30 points. They were followed by Providence with 25, Villanova with 19, Quinnipiac with 13 and Georgetown with nine. For the full preseason release, click
HERE.
In The National Polls
Connecticut, Liberty and Old Dominion will start the 2016 season nationally ranked as the NFHCA announced the preseason poll on Tuesday. The 15-time BIG EAST champion Huskies ranked in the top three while Liberty and Old Dominion came in at No. 13 and No. 20, respectively. The three universities are the most members the conference has had ranked in the NFHCA preseason since 2012 when the BIG EAST saw UConn, Syracuse and Louisville ranked in the preseason top-20. Also receiving votes for the BIG EAST were Providence and Temple.
A Growing Conference
The 2016 season will be the first campaign for Liberty University and Quinnipiac University as BIG EAST affiliates. The new conference field hockey alignment for the BIG EAST consists of eight teams: Connecticut, Georgetown, Liberty, Old Dominion, Providence, Quinnipiac, Temple and Villanova. Last season, Liberty competed as an independent, posting a 12-6 record and finishing the year ranked No. 14 in the final NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll. Quinnipiac also saw success, winning its second regular-season championship in its three years as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Weekend Schedule
Friday, Aug. 26
No.2 Syracuse at RV Temple, 1 p.m.
RV Providence at Maine, 1 p.m.
No.8 Boston College at Quinnipiac, 1 p.m.
No.13 Liberty at No. 19 James Madison, 6 p.m.
Georgetown at Davidson, 6 p.m.
No. 20 Old Dominion at Penn State, 6 p.m.
No.3 UConn at No.11 Stanford, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27
Villanova at Kent State, Noon
Sacred Heart at RV Providence, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28
Georgetown at Appalachian State, Noon
RV Michigan State at Villanova, Noon
No. 20 Old Dominion at American, Noon
No. 13Liberty at No.4 Duke, 1 p.m.
UMass-Lowell at Quinnipiac, 1 p.m.
Saint Joseph’s at RV Temple, 3 p.m.
No. 2 UConn at Pacific, 5 p.m.
All times eastern