Aug. 11, 2005
RICHMOND, Va. -- Based on a poll of the Colonial Athletic Association's nine head coaches, Old Dominion is favored to reclaim the 2005 field hockey championship.
The Lady Monarchs received 60 total points to lead the poll, including four first-place votes and four second-place votes. William & Mary placed second, garnering three first-place votes for a total of 52 points, while the defending champion Blue Hens collected the other two first-place votes for total of 51 points. CAA newcomer Northeastern, which has captured the past four America East Conference titles, followed with 43 points. James Madison placed fifth in the poll followed by last season's tournament runner-up, Hofstra. Drexel, Virginia Commonwealth and Towson round out the rest of the poll.
Old Dominion went 13-8 overall last season and participated in a record 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament, but had its streak of eight consecutive CAA championships come to an end. The Lady Monarchs' lineup features nine returning starters including First Team All-CAA selections Dana Sensenig and Janelle Engle. Sensenig, who was also a Third Team All-American, led the CAA with 13 assists and was second in the conference with 15 goals.
The Tribe of William & Mary topped the 2004 CAA regular season standings with a perfect 7-0 league record (13-7 overall) before losing a 1-0 overtime game in the semifinals of the CAA tournament to Hofstra. The Tribe will be led in 2005 by senior forward Kelly Giles, who was selected as the CAA Player of the Year and named to the All-America third team after contributing a team-high 14 goals and six assists.
Delaware, which posted a 15-7 overall record and won its first CAA field hockey championship in 2004 with a 5-1 victory over Hofstra, also boasts some impressive returnees. Junior back Amanda Warrington was named to the All-America second team as well as being chosen as the CAA Tournament MVP and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Also back to anchor the Blue Hens' defense is 1st team All-CAA goalkeeper Megan Allen, who led the league in goals allowed average (1.31) and shutouts (10).
Northeastern went 18-4 overall a year ago and captured their fourth straight America East Conference crown. The Huskies reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2004 before falling to eventual national champion Wake Forest. Among the returnees for NU is senior back Lauren Edelmeier, who was a first-team All-Region pick and was the America East Defensive Player of the Year.
The CAA is traditionally one of the strongest field hockey conferences in the nation. Four teams were ranked last season in the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (No. 9 Northeastern, No. 12 Old Dominion, No. 14 Delaware, No. 15 William & Mary).
2005 CAA FIELD HOCKEY PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
(Teams received 8 points for a first-place vote, 7 for a second, etc.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)
(Number of first-place votes in parentheses.)
1. Old Dominion 60 (4)
2. William & Mary 52 (3)
3. Delaware 51 (2)
4. Northeastern 43
5. James Madison 39
6. Hofstra 33
7. Drexel 21
8. VCU 14
9. Towson 11