NEW YORK -- The Old Dominion field hockey team was picked to finish third in the Big East Coaches' Poll, while the junior duo of Rebecca Birch and Erin Huffman were both named to the Preseason All-Big East Team, the conference office announced on Thursday.
Reigning conference and national champion UConn was selected to finish first, receiving all but one first-place vote. Liberty was picked second and garnered the other first-place vote. View the complete poll below.
Birch, a junior back, started every game for the Monarchs last season. The U.K. native tied for sixth on the team in scoring with nine points on three goals and three assists.
Huffman, a junior forward, was a First Team All-Big East selection and Second Team All-NFHCA South Region honoree last year. The Pennsylvania native led ODU and tied for fifth in the conference with 12 goals. Huffman was one of just four unanimous selections on the preseason team.
Read the full release from the Big East here.
Head coach Andrew Griffiths and the Monarchs officially open the season on Aug. 24 at Michigan State.
2018 Big East Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. UConn (7)
2. Liberty (1)
3. Old Dominion
4. Providence
5. Quinnipiac
6. Temple
7. Villanova
8. Georgetown
2018 Field Hockey Preseason All-Big East Team
Svea Boker, UConn, Jr., F
^Amanda Collins, UConn, Sr., F (Preseason Co-Offensive POTY)
Jill Bolton, Liberty, So., M
^Ashley Dykema, Liberty, So., M/D (Preseason Defensive POTY)
Agueda Moroni, Liberty, Jr., F/M (Preseason Co-Offensive POTY)
Allison Schaefer, Liberty, Jr., GK
Rebecca Birch, ODU, Jr., B
^Erin Huffman, ODU, Jr., F
Corrine Kenney, Providence, Sr., M/D
^Mikayla Michals, Providence, Jr., M/F
Elisa Ruiz Martinez, Quinnipiac, Sr., M
^ denotes unanimous selection
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