Blue Hens 9th in preseason national field hockey poll

The University of Delaware is ninth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association preseason Top 25 announced Monday.

Delaware opens the 2018 season Friday at No. 24-ranked Ohio State.

The Blue Hens, who won the NCAA championship in 2016, were No. 7 in last year’s final poll. They then lost a first-round NCAA tourney match-up 2-1 to sixth-ranked Penn State in overtime to close a 15-5 season.

Defending NCAA champ Connecticut was No. 1 in the poll.

The Hens have won five straight Colonial Athletic Association championships and reached five straight NCAA tournaments. They return seven starters, including three of their top four scorers led by senior All-American Greta Nauck, who was Honda national player of the year in 2016.

Preseason NFHCA field hockey Top 25

1-Connecticut (979 points/19 first-place votes)

2-North Carolina (966/18)

3-Duke (908/1)

4-Maryland (894/4)

5-Michigan (837)

6-Penn State (778)

7-Virginia (713)

8-Louisville (708)

9-DELAWARE (704)

10-Princeton (636)

11-Syracuse (613)

12-Northwestern (603)

13-Boston College (531)

14-Wake Forest (432)

15-(tie) Harvard (395)

15-(tie) Stanford (395)

17-James Madison (316)

18-Saint Joseph’s (311)

19-Boston University (257)

20-Iowa (216)

21-Albany (211)

22-William & Mary (200)

23-Liberty (143)

24-Ohio State (137)

25-Maine (116)

Must-Reads in Sports:

Eagles' ageless RB Darren Sproles finds motivation to overcome knee injury

Delaware Military's Alleyne a threat to score on every play

Top 7 high school running backs in Delaware

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.