WASHINGTON – Saint Joseph’s, the four-time defending Atlantic 10 Conference field hockey champion and 2024 national runner-up, has been voted as the league’s preseason favorite for the 2025 season. The A-10 announced the annual Preseason Poll and the 11-member Preseason All-Conference team Tuesday ahead of the start of the season on Friday, August 29.
 
The Hawks were selected first in the poll with 47 total points and five first-place votes. Saint Joseph’s was the national runner up last year, topping No. 1 North Carolina, 2-1 in the national semifinals before falling to No. 2 Northwestern in the national championship game. SJU finished the season at 20-4, ranked No. 3 in the country and were 6-1 in A-10 play. The Hawks return All-Conference performers Erika Culp and goalkeeper Marith Bijkerk as well as All-Academic honoree Alison Buffington, all of whom were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Richmond and VCU tied for second place in the poll. Each with 39 points and one first place vote. The Spiders were 5-2 and finished third last year, posting an overall record of 11-8. Clara Larripa, an All-Conference First Team selection in 2024 and Valen Luna Paratore, who was named All-Rookie last year, both return for UR and were named Preseason All-Conference.
 
VCU was 4-3 in the A-10 last year and 11-7 overall, has Morena Macera and Josefina Ventimiglia on the Preseason All-Conference Team. Macera was an All-Conference First Team selection last year.
 
Davidson returns All-Conference Second Team selections Sib Naaktgeboren and Matilda Collins, both of whom earned preseason accolades. The Wildcats were chosen fourth with 27 points.
 
Field hockey affiliate member Lock Haven was picked fifth with 19 points in the poll, edging out La Salle, who was sixth with 18 points. The Explorers had Roos Pasveer, an All-Rookie honoree in 2024, named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Saint Louis rounded out the poll and also had a preseason selection in Olivia Smith.
 
The 2025 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey season is set to commence on Friday, August 29. Conference play begins on Friday, Sept. 19 and the 2025 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Championship will take place Nov. 6-8 at Crenshaw Field in Richmond, Va., on the University of Richmond campus.
 
The league’s seven head coaches voted in both the Preseason poll and All-Conference Team, which is listed below.
 
2025 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Preseason Poll
Number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes.
1. Saint Joseph’s (5) – 47
2. Richmond (1) – 39
     VCU (1) – 39
4. Davidson – 27
5. Lock Haven – 19
6. La Salle – 18
7. Saint Louis – 7
 
2025 Field Hockey Preseason All-Conference Team
Sib Naaktgeboren, Davidson
Matilda Collins, Davidson
Roos Pasveer, La Salle
Clara Larripa, Richmond
Valen Luna Paratore, Richmond
Marith Bijkerk (GK), Saint Joseph’s
Erika Culp, Saint Joseph's
Alison Buffington, Saint Joseph's
Olivia Smith, Saint Louis          
Morena Macera, VCU
Josefina Ventimiglia, VCU