NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Saint Joseph’s and VCU’s Field Hockey teams have been ranked in the Top 25 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Hawks secured the 20th spot and the Rams are 23rd.  It marks the sixth consecutive season that SJU has been ranked in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll. VCU finished last season ranked No. 17, and spent the final three weeks of the season ranked in the NFHCA Coaches Poll. 

SJU was ranked in 35 consecutive polls between 2017 and 2021 before slipping out of the rankings late in the COVID 19-altered 2020-21 season.  In both 2018 and 2019, the Hawks reached #10 in the national rankings, the program's highest-ever ranking. Eight of the Hawks' scheduled opponents for the upcoming campaign are ranked in the preseason poll, highlighted by top-ranked North Carolina visiting Hawk Hill on September 10th and a league matchup with VCU.

Three teams the Rams face this season are also ranked in the poll, No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 18 ODU and Saint Joseph's. The Rams return 10 of 11 starters and 15 of 17 student-athletes who appeared in at least one game from last season. VCU made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament this past spring after winning the A-10 Championship.

Both teams commence their season Friday, where Saint Joseph opens its 2021 fall campaign with matchup against Fairfield and VCU against American.