A-10 announces Preseason Field Hockey Poll; Haven opens season at home Friday (Aug. 30)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) announced the 2024 Preseason Coaches’ Poll Tuesday (Aug. 27) and the Lock Haven field hockey team was picked to finish sixth in the eight-team league.
Saint Joseph’s received seven of eight first-place votes and was tabbed by the coaches as the preseason favorite. Massachusetts and VCU were picked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Rounding out the coaches’ preseason poll was No. 4 Richmond, No. 5 La Salle, No. 6 Lock Haven, No. 7 Davidson and No. 8 Saint Louis.
Lock Haven will officially open the 2024 season at home on Friday, Aug. 30 when the Bald Eagles welcome perennial power and 10th-ranked Syracuse to Charlotte Smith Field.
For The Haven, Friday’s non-conference clash vs. Syracuse is the first of two games scheduled on the home turf during the season’s opening weekend. Lock Haven will also host Temple on Sunday (Sept. 1).
The match vs. nationally-ranked Syracuse on Friday, Aug. 30 is set for 3 p.m. and Lock Haven will host Temple at noon on Sunday, Sept. 1.
In all, the Bald Eagles will open the 2024 season with four straight games at home. Lock Haven will host Georgetown on Sept. 6 and Colgate on Sept. 8.
The season-opening four-game homestand is part of an 11-game home slate scheduled for the fall on Charlotte Smith Field. The Bald Eagles picked up a pair of wins at home last season and went a perfect 9-0 at home in 2022.
Lock Haven will hit the road to take on American on Friday, Sept. 13 at the University of Maryland, and the Bald Eagles first true road test will come vs. host and perennial national power Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The Haven is set to open 2024 Atlantic 10 play on Friday, Sept. 20 vs. LaSalle. Last season, Lock Haven picked up conference wins vs. Richmond and Davidson. The full 2024 Lock Haven field hockey schedule is available at GoLHU.com.
Second-year head coach Anna Rogers and first-year assistant coach McKenna Sergi return a strong nucleus, which will help power the program into the new season. The Bald Eagles also announced the recent addition of a standout group of newcomers. The talented group of nine new Bald Eagles will look to make an immediate impact on the program.
As far as returners go, the Bald Eagles return their top scorers from last season, including Brooke Hofsass who led the team in goals with eight and total points with 19 (8G, 3A). Constanza Lopez Zabala scored six goals last season and Alyssa Endrick finished with three goals and three assists.
Leading the way on defense will be sophomore Elien Bos, who was named to the A-10’s All-Rookie Team last year after a sensational freshman campaign. Florance de Kroon is another experienced defender Lock Haven can lean on, and senior Deana Campbell will provide veteran leadership on and off the field.
2024 Atlantic 10 Conference Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
1. Saint Joseph’s, 64 pts. (7)
2. Massachusetts, 54 pts. (1)
3. VCU, 48 pts.
4. Richmond, 41 pts.
5. La Salle, 25 pts.
6. Lock Haven, 24 pts.
7. Davidson, 21 pts.
8. Saint Louis, 12 pts.
*(First-Place Votes)
