Centennial Conference Preseason Poll Release
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team was picked eighth in the annual Centennial Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll, the conference office announced on Friday morning. The ranking was determined solely by a vote of the conference head coaches and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Haverford received a total of 35 voting points.
Defending national semifinalist Johns Hopkins was picked to defend its 2018 title, taking 98 total voting points and eight first-place votes. Franklin & Marshall, who also advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament a season ago, received the other three first-place votes and 93 total points.
Ursinus (82 points), Muhlenberg (67 points), Dickinson (63 points), Gettysburg (55 points), and Washington College (43 points) were picked third through seventh, respectively. Haverford finished ahead of Bryn Mawr (31 points), Swarthmore (28 points) and McDaniel (10 points).
Head Coach Jackie Cox returns for her 10th season at the helm of the program as the Fords look to return to the Centennial Conference tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons. She enters the season with 96 career wins and will look to reach the 100 win plateau in the fall. Co-captain Caroline Aronowitz returns after a second-team All-Centennial Conference season, while a large rising first-year class will look to take another step forward into vital roles after receiving immediate experience in their initial campaigns on campus.
Fans following the Fords this season will see a new format brought to the collegiate game, as the two 35 minute halves have been replaced by four 15 minute quarters. Additionally, the clock will stop on every penalty corner opportunity. These changes were made to bring the collegiate game more in line with the format and pace of international field hockey.
Haverford will host Immaculata in the 2019 season opener on August 30 at Swan Field. The Centennial Conference season gets underway with a home contest against Muhlenberg on September 25.