MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University field hockey team was selected seventh in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
Assumption University (157) edged Saint Anselm College (153), Pace University (141), and Adelphi University (141) for the top spots in the poll. Each of the four schools received at least two first-place votes from NE10 Coaches. Bentley University (127) and the University of New Haven (105) were ranked just ahead of SNHU (95). St. Thomas Aquinas (86) and Saint Michael's College (66) were next. American International College (53) was tenth in the poll, followed by Mercy College (51), Franklin Pierce University (47), Southern Connecticut State University (37), and Molloy College (15).
Head coach Julie Munson will begin her ninth season as the head coach and is coming off a season in which the team finished 8-11 overall and 7-6 in the Northeast-10. The Penmen dropped a 2-1 decision to Saint Anselm in the NE10 Quarterfinals. SNHU will be looking for its first NCAA bid since 2019.
The Penmen return the top two scorers from 2022, including junior Annemartine Christis ('s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands), who was named NE10 Second-Team for the second time after scoring six goals and 12 assists. Junior Eliza Bates (Newport, N.H.) scored five goals and added three assists last season. Sophomore goal keeper Emma Peeters (Wageningen, Netherlands) was named to the NE10 Third-Team and All-Rookie Team last season. She compiled a 2.23 goals against average, serving as the team's netminder. Also returning for the Penmen is sophomore Anne Wiersma (Velhoven, Netherlands), who was named to the NE10 All-Rookie team and scored three goals and added two assists in 2022.
SNHU opens its 17-match schedule Thursday, Aug. 31 (6 p.m.) when it plays host to Bloomsburg University at Dr. George J. Larkin Field. The Penmen have eight home matches on the schedule, including an Oct. 4 meeting with Saint Anselm College. Be sure to check out @snhupenmen social media channels for the drop of the official 2023 schedule poster prior to the season opener.
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2023 NE10 FIELD HOCKEY COACHES' POLL
1. Assumption – 157 (5)
2. Saint Anselm – 153 (3)
3. Pace – 141 (4)
3. Adelphi – 141 (2)
5. Bentley - 127
6. New Haven - 105
7. Southern New Hampshire - 95
8. St. Thomas Aquinas - 86
9. Saint Michael's - 66
10. American International - 53
11. Mercy – 51
12. Franklin Pierce – 47
13. Southern Connecticut – 37
14. Molloy - 15
