PRESEASON POLL RELEASENFHCA/MONTOCOMPLETE PENN
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following its best season in school history a year ago, the University of New Haven field hockey team continues to turn heads across the country, securing the first-ever national ranking in program history, T-10th in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II Coaches Poll.
The Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll is a composite ranking of the top- 10 teams in the nation, released weekly, beginning with a preseason poll ahead of week one competition. The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches Poll is voted on by NFHCA member coaches and has no bearing on selection to the 2022 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship.
Earlier this month, the Chargers were selected sixth in the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the highest ranking in program history in the league's annual coaches' poll. The Chargers will open the 2022 campaign on Labor Day, Monday, September 5, when they travel to Garden City, N.Y. for a date with the Adelphi Panthers.
Leading the Chargers into the 2022 campaign will be the top two scorers from a year ago, rising sophomore Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional) and graduate student Sophie Schreck (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand). The rookie a season ago, Nixon led the Chargers on the year with 19 points on a team-high seven goals and adding five assists. Schreck finished just behind her with six goals and added a pair of assists for 14 points.
Also among the leading returners will be graduate student goalie Keira Integlia (Branford, Conn./Branford) who closed out her first campaign with the Blue and Gold collecting 135 saves and finishing the year with a 1.51 goals against average.
Following its opener at Adelphi, the field hockey team will play nearly the full month of September away from home before hosting Pace for the 2022 home opener, the first of seven home games at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. The home opener against the Setters is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
