Aug. 13, 2010
RICHMOND, Va. - The Old Dominion field hockey team was chosen second as the Colonial Athletic Association released its 2010 Preseason Coaches Poll on Friday. The Lady Monarchs received three first-place votes and trailed only preseason favorite and last years regular season champion, Drexel in the rankings.
Each of the leagues nine head coaches ranked the other eight teams in the league to compile the poll.
Drexel received five first-place votes and 59 total points to notch the top spot, but two other teams also received first-place votes in the preseason poll. Old Dominion, which has claimed 13 of the CAA's 19 field hockey titles, tallied three first-place votes and 54 points overall to edge out four-time conference champion James Madison. The Dukes received 50 total points.
Defending CAA champion Delaware received one first-place vote and 47 points overall for fourth, and Northeastern claimed the fifth spot with 34 total points. William & Mary was chosen sixth (27), followed by Hofstra (26), VCU (17) and Towson (10).
Old Dominion welcomes back seven starters to its roster this season. Leading the charge will be senior forward Kathryn Kirk, whose nine goals led the team in 2009. Joining Kirk will be senior midfielder Loran Hatch, who recorded seven goals and seven assists last season, and sophomore midfielder and 2009 CAA All-Rookie selection Julie Hodge.
The CAA has placed a pair of teams in the NCAA Championships 16-team field two of the past three seasons. The conference also had four teams finish the season ranked in the NCAA Top 15 in RPI in 2009.
2010 CAA FIELD HOCKEY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Drexel (5 first-place votes) 592. Old Dominion (3 first-place votes) 543. James Madison 504. Delaware (1 first-place vote) 475. Northeastern 346. William & Mary 277. Hofstra 268. VCU 179. Towson 10
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