FIELD HOCKEY: Saint Joseph's of Maine Captures Top Spot in GNAC Preseason Poll
The four-time defending GNAC champion Monks topped the annual coaches' poll, receiving eight first-place votes ahead of the 2021 campaign.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
All 14 first-place votes go to five-time
defending GNAC champion JWU Wildcats
WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College of Maine, winner of four straight championship titles, received eight first-place votes to finish with 140 points atop the 2021 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Preseason Poll, as voted upon by the league's head coaches.
Lasell University took the second position in the rankings with 133 points and three first-place votes, as the Lasers have advanced to the GNAC Championship contest each of the last three years.
Lasell will travel to SJC in Standish, Maine for a crucial regular-season contest on Saturday, October 2 at 11:00 AM. For the complete poll results, please see below.
Also featured in the top-five were Colby Sawyer College in third with 106 points, Simmons University in fourth with 104 points, and Anna Maria College in the fifth spot with 99 points and the remaining first-place tally.
Colby-Sawyer advanced to the GNAC semifinals in 2018, while Simmons advanced to the GNAC Championship contest in the first three years (2014-16) of the GNAC sponsoring the sport field hockey, claiming the team title in 2014 and 2015. Anna Maria made its lone appearance in the GNAC Final back in 2014.
Cementing the remaining spots in the poll were Regis College (82 points), Johnson & Wales University (81), Rivier University (63), Elms College (47), Dean College (32), University of Saint Joseph (CT) (30), and Albertus Magnus College (18).
The 2021 GNAC Tournament is set to begin with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, October 30, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, November 3, and the title contest on Saturday, Nov. 6.
2021 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Saint Joseph's Maine (8) - 140
2. Lasell (3) - 133
3. Colby-Sawyer - 106
4. Simmons - 104
5. Anna Maria (1) - 99
6. Regis - 83
7. Johnson & Wales - 81
8. Rivier - 63
9. Elms - 47
10. Dean - 32
11. USJ - 30
12. Albertus Magnus - 18
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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