LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The IUP field hockey team has been picked to finish seventh as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced its 2016 preseason coaches’ poll.
(Photo courtesy of IUP Athletics)
Defending national champion East Stroudsburg received seven of the 11 first place votes to lead the voting, with Millersville following in second, West Chester (three first-place votes) in third, and Shippensburg (one) in fourth.
Kutztown and Bloomsburg sit in front of the Crimson Hawks in fifth and sixth, respectively, while Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock, Mansfield and Seton Hill round out the rest of the poll.
IUP is coming off of an 8-10 year in 2015, but missed out on a playoff spot by one game after making a late run that included three straight victories to end the season. The Crimson Hawks are hoping to have their top five goal scorers from a season ago, including Ericka Griffith (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), who led the team with 13 points (four goals, five assists).
Matti Reightler (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) was a big contributor in her first year on campus, leading the Crimson Hawks with six goals, while Amber Bailey (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) had five and Haley Klinger (Lancaster, Pa./Garden Spot) added four. McKenzie Noll (Lewisburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) paced the team with seven assists in addition to her two goals to finish third on the team with 11 points.
Olivia Young (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra), a former All-PSAC performer, anchors a defense that gave up just four combined goals over the last three games of the season, and allowed two or fewer goals 11 times in 18 games.
The Crimson Hawks open their 2016 season at West Chester on Sept. 10. IUP’s home opener is slated for Sept. 14 against Shippensburg.
Results from the preseason coaches’ poll are listed below. First place votes are in ( ).
1. East Stroudsburg (7)
2. Millersville
3. West Chester (3)
4. Shippensburg (1)
5. Kutztown
6. Bloomsburg
7. IUP
8. Mercyhurst
9. Slippery Rock
10. Mansfield
11. Seton Hill
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