Aug. 25, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -

2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll

The Providence College field hockey team is ranked 20th in the 2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll. The NFHCA released the preseason rankings on Tuesday, August 25. The Friars ammassed 57 points in the poll, and are one of four BIG EAST Conference members to earn a spot in the top-20.

BIG EAST rival Syracuse, who advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 2008 is ranked No. 3, with 464 points. The University of Connecticut is ranked No. 5 (402 points), while Louisville ranked No. 13 (230 points) in the first poll of the season.

Defending National Champion Maryland is ranked first in the preseason poll with 573 points and earned 24 of 29 first place votes. Two other Atlantic Coast Conference institutions round out the top-five in the rankings, including No. 2 ranked Wake Forest (513 points) and No. 4 ranked North Carolina with 440 points and two first place votes. The Friars ended the 2008 season with a 12-9 overall record and a 3-3 BIG EAST Conference record. Providence has been ranked in the national poll during each of the last three seasons (2006-2008).

The squad returns nine starters from last season and is set to open the 2009 regular-season schedule on Saturday, August 29 against non-conference foe Massachusetts. UMass also is ranked in the top-20, sitting at No. 17. The game is scheduled to be played at Garber Field in Amherst, Mass. and will be begin at 1:00 p.m. The Friars are scheduled to face eight teams this season who are ranked in the 2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll including Wake Forest, Syracuse, Connecticut, Virginia, Princeton, Louisville, Boston College and Massachusetts.