NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team enters the 2016 season ranked No. 20 in the nation according to the Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Poll released Tuesday.
Defending NCAA runner-up North Carolina was tabbed as the No. 1 team in the nation with defending national champion Syracuse in second. BIG EAST foe Connecticut arrived at No. 3 in the poll while Duke and Virginia rounded out No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Led by head coach Andrew Griffiths in his fourth year at the helm, ODU commences the season this Friday, Aug. 26 on the road at No. 18 Penn State at 6 p.m. before the Lady Monarchs travel to Washington, D.C. to play American at noon on Sunday, Aug. 28.
Nine of Old Dominion's 2016 opponents were ranked in the top 20 while five other squads on the schedule received votes in the poll.
The next Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll will be announced on Tuesday, September 6.
For the complete release from the NFHCA, click here.
Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Poll
1. North Carolina*
2. Syracuse
3. Connecticut*
4. Duke*
5. Virginia*
6. Maryland*
7. Wake Forest
8. Boston College
9. Albany
10. Michigan
11. Stanford
12. Louisville
13. Liberty*
14. Delaware*
15. Princeton
16. Northwestern
17. Boston University
18. Penn State*
19. James Madison*
20. Old Dominion
Others Receiving Votes: Maine (93), Iowa (70), Massachusetts (69), Pacific (42), Michigan State (33), American* (24), Penn (20), New Hampshire (17), Cornell (15), Miami (OH) (15), Indiana (12), Ohio State (12), Ball State (8), California (8), Temple* (6), Richmond* (4), William & Mary* (4), Hofstra (3), Providence* (3), Drexel (2), Rutgers (1).
*2016 Opponent