NCAA Division I Preseason Favorites

Preseason for the 2016 college season is underway!  In MAX Field Hockey’s first college field hockey coverage of 2016, we begin by taking a look at the potential Division I favorites.

The following 13 Division I programs were selected by MAX Field Hockey to be among the preseason favorites.  Each program broke into the Top 10 of the NFHCA Coaches Polls at least twice in 2015 and made the Final 2015 NCAA RPI Top 20 Rankings.  With the ACC power conference programs all being ranked in the Top 15 of both the NCAA and NFHCA rankings week after week and securing almost half of the NCAA Tournament berths, all seven ACC programs earned a spot on the list and are expected to maintain their dominance in the season ahead.  Big Ten programs Maryland and Michigan are also in the mix, as are UConn and Albany who return lots of talent and look to yet again be strong contenders.  Stanford and Liberty fill the final spots.  There are certainly some other programs that could be added in here (Princeton, Northwestern, Delaware and Penn State to name a few..), but we based our selections heavily on 2015 performance and this is where we ended up.

With 56% of the NCAA Division I All-Americans for the 2015 season being international players (27 of the total 48 players), we know there will be many new international faces that will step in and make an immediate impact for some of these top programs.  That provides a bit of an unknown factor that is difficult to consider heading into the season!

DON’T FORGET TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IN THE POLL
BELOW WHERE YOU CAN SELECT YOUR TOP 5 PRESEASON FAVORITES!

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
Head Coach: Phil Sykes
2015 Final Record: 19-3-0
NCAA Division I Tournament First Round
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #9
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #8

Key Players Lost:
Fiori Rijswijk (Northeast Region Second Team, Second Team America East)
Laura Page (Northeast Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Paula Heuser (Northeast Region Player of the Year, First Team All-American, 2014 National Player of the Year, First Team America East)
Anna Bottino (Mideast Region First Team, Second Team America East)
Jaclyn Hibbs (Mideast Region First Team, First Team America East)
Laura Page (Mideast Region First Team)
Maxi Primus (GK) (Mideast Region First Team, Second Team America East)
Frederike Helmke (America East All-Rookie Team)
Megan Ma (America East All-Rookie Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Emily Fraser (Top 50)
Baylee Burghardt (Next 50)
Julia Kim (Next 50)

BOSTON COLLEGE
Head Coach: Kelly Doton
2015 Final Record: 13-9-0
NCAA Division I Tournament Second Round, ACC Tournament Semifinalist
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #6
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #9

Key Players Lost:
Leah Settipane (GK) (Second Team All-American, Northeast Region First Team)
Romee Stiekema (Northeast Region First Team, Second Team ACC)
Kelcie Hromisin (Northeast Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Emily McCoy (Second Team All-American, Northeast Region First Team, Second Team ACC)
Frederique Haverhals (Northeast Region Second Team)
Eryn McCoy (Northeast Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Sarah Dwyer (GK) (Top 50)
Brigid Wood (Top 50)

DUKE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Pam Bustin
2015 Final Record: 14-7-0
NCAA Division I Semifinalist
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #4
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #6

Key Players Lost:
Lauren Blazing (GK) (First Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Aileen Johnson (Second Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Hannah Barreca (South Region Second Team, Second Team ACC)
Amanda Kim (South Region Second Team, Second Team ACC)

Key Returners:
Alyssa Chillano (South Region Second Team)
Ashley Kristen (South Region Second Team)
Heather Morris (South Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Margaux Paolino (Top 5)
Haley Schleicher (Top 5)
Jillian Wolgemuth (Top 50)
Kirby Comizio (Top 50)

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Jodi Murphy
2015 Final Record: 12-6-0
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #16
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #14

Key Players Lost:
Natalie Barr (Third Team All-American, South Region First Team)
Ashlee Krulock (South Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Bethany Barr (South Region Second Team)
Serena Barr (South Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Allison Schaefer (GK) (Next 50)

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Head Coach: Justine Sowry
2015 Final Record: 13-7-0
NCAA Division I Tournament First Round
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #12
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #11

Key Players Lost:
Victoria Stratton (Third Team All-American, West Region First Team)
Elisa Garcia (West Region First Team, Second Team ACC)

Key Returners:
Ayeisha McFerran (GK) (Third Team All-American, West Region First Team)
Nicole Woods (West Region First Team, Second Team ACC)
Erin McCrudden (West Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Carter Ayers (Top 50)

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Head Coach: Missy Meharg
2015 Final Record: 19-4-0
NCAA Division I Tournament First Round, BIG Ten Conference Champions
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #10
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #5

Key Players Lost:
Sarah Sprink (Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year, BIG 10 Player of the Year, First Team All-American, Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, First Team BIG 10)
Anna Dessoye (First Team All-American, Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, First Team BIG 10)
Alyssa Parker (Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Welma Luus (GS) (Second Team All-American, Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, Second Team BIG 10)
Linnea Gonzales (BIG 10 Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-American, Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, Second Team BIG 10)
Carrie Hanks (Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Ena Belch (Top 50)
Elizabeth Dessoye (Top 50)
Noelle Frost (GK) (Top 50)
Kelee Lepage (Top 50)
Madison Maguire (Top 50)
Lexi Silver (Next 50)
Emily Thomas (Next 50)

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Head Coach: Marcia Pankratz
2015 Final Record: 18-5-0
NCAA Division I Tournament Second Round, BIG Ten Tournament Runner-Up
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #11
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #10

Key Players Lost:
Lauren Thomas (West Region Player of the Year, Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, West Region First Team, First Team BIG 10)
Shannon Scavelli (West Region First Team, First Team BIG 10)
Mackenzie Ellis (West Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Sam Swenson (GK) (Second Team All-American, West Region First Team, First Team BIG 10)
Katie Trombetta (West Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Bree Bednarski (Top 50)
Julia Kate Walker (Top 50)

STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Tara Danielson
2015 Final Record: 13-7-0
NCAA Division I Tournament First Round, America East Tournament Semifinalist
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #14
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #13

Key Players Lost:
Maddie Secco (Second Team All-American, West Region First Team, First Team America East)
Dulcie Davies (GK) (West Region Second Team, First Team America East)
Jessica Chisholm (Second Team America East)

Key Returners:
Sarah Helgeson (First Team America East)
Caroline Beaudoin (Second Team America East)
Jordan Barry (America East All-Rookie Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Kelsey Bing (GK) (Top 5)
Nina Randolph (Top 50)
Jessica Welch (Top 50)

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Ange Bradley (2015 ACC Coach-of-the-Year)
2015 Final Record: 21-1-0
NCAA Division I National Champions, ACC Tournament Runner-Up
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #1
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #2

Key Players Lost:
Alyssa Manley (ACC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, Mideast Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Emma Russell (First Team All-American, Mideast Region First Team, Second Team ACC)
Jess Jecko (GK) (Second Team ACC)
Alma Fenne (ACC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team ACC)

Key Returners:
Laura Hurff (First Team All-American, First Team ACC)
Roos Weers (ACC Freshman of the Year, First Team ACC)

Ranked Incomings:
Katie Supey (Next 50)
Claire Webb (Next 50)

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Head Coach: Nancy Stevens
2015 Final Record: 22-1-0
NCAA Division I Semifinalist, Big East Tournament Champions
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #5
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #3

Key Players Lost:
Roisin Upton (Mideast Region Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, Mideast Region First Team, Big East First Team)
Pippa Lewis (Mideast Region Second Team, Second Team Big East)

Key Returners:
Charlotte Veitner (Big East Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, Mideast Region First Team, First Team Big East)
Anna Middendorf (Third Team All-American, Mideast Region First Team, First Team Big East)
Olivia Bolles (Mideast Region First Team, Second Team Big East)
Karlie Heistand (Mideast Region First Team, Second Team Big East)
Nina Klein (GK) (Mideast Region First Team, First Team Big East)
Casey Umstead (Mideast Region Second Team, Second Team Big East)
Amelia Iacobucci (Big East Freshman of the Year)

Ranked Incomings:
Kita Konerth (GK) (Next 50)

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Head Coach: Karen Shelton
2015 Final Record: 21-3-0
NCAA Division I Runner-Up, ACC Tournament Champions
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #2
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #1

Key Players Lost:
Nina Notman (First Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Emily Wold (First Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Casey DiNardo (South Region First Team, Second Team ACC)

Key Returners:
Julia Young (Second Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Ashley Hoffman (South Region Second Team)
Gab Major (South Region Second Team)
Eva Van’t Hoog (South Region Second Team)
Emma Bozek (*medical redshirt in 2015)

Ranked Incomings:
Megan Duvernois (Top 50)
Amanda Hendry (GK) (Top 50)
Kathryn Holland (Top 50)
Georgia Cassidy (Next 50)
Courtnie Williamson (Next 50)

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Head Coach: Michele Madison
2015 Final Record: 15-6-0
NCAA Division I Quarterfinalist, ACC Tournament Semifinalist
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #3
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #4

Key Players Lost:

Key Returners:
Lucy Hyams (First Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Tara Vittese (South Region Player of the Year, First Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Riley Tata (South Region Second Team)

Ranked Incomings:
Coleen Norair (Top 50)
Erin Shanahan (Top 50)
Averi June Bent (Next 50)
Carolyn Topps (Next 50)

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Jen Averill
2015 Final Record: 13-6-0
NCAA Division I Tournament First Round
NCAA Final RPI Ranking: #8
NFHCA Final Coaches Poll Ranking: #7

Key Players Lost:
Valerie Dahmen (GK) (Third Team All-American)
Jess Newak (Second Team All-American, South Region First Team, First Team ACC)
Kali Vicars (South Region Second Team)

Key Returners:
Julianne Grashoff (South Region Second Team, Second Team ACC)

Ranked Incomings:
Dana Bozek (Top 50)
Kelsey Gill (Next 50)

If we had to select our Top 5 Preseason Favorites….North Carolina, UConn and Virginia would definitely be in the mix.  Then we would have to go with some combination of Duke, Syracuse, Maryland or Albany for the final 2 spots.  International incoming players would play a major factor in selecting those final spots.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:

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A LOOK BACK AT THE 2015 FINAL NCAA & NFHCA RANKINGS & NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET:

Check out a complete list of top seniors from the class of 2015 in our recap of the 2015 WFHL Draft:
–MAX Field Hockey’s 2015 WFHL Draft Results-

-Click here to View MAX Field Hockey’s Class of 2016 Player Rankings-
to see the Top 100 players entering the college ranks this Fall