JWU Seeks Fourth Straight Title, Tabbed 2024 Favorites in Preseason Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – Three-time reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Champion Johnson & Wales looks to extend their title streak to four in 2024 as they were tabbed the preseason favorite.
The Wildcats earned 168 points, including 12 first place votes, in this year's preseason poll which was conducted by the league's 13 field hockey head coaches this past week.
Last year, JWU produced a record of 17-3 overall (11-1 in conference play) and earned the No. 1 seed in the GNAC Championship Tournament. The Wildcats defeated Regis in the Quarterfinals, 8-1, and New England College, 1-0, in the Semifinals, and defeated No. 3 seed Colby-Sawyer in the Championship, 4-1, to win their third straight conference title. In the NCAA Championship, they fell to No. 7 Bates in the first round.
Lasell and Simmons tied up for the second spot at 140 points. Lasell received a first place vote.
Last Year's GNAC Tournament runner-up Colby-Sawyer landed in the No. 4 spot in this year's ranking with 134 points, while New England College landed fifth with 131 and Rivier placed sixth with 103 points.
Saint Joseph's (Maine) (84 points) and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (74) placed seventh and eighth, respectively.
Rounding out the poll in order were Regis (64), Dean (54), Albertus Magnus (37), Anna Maria (37), and Elms (37).
The 2024 GNAC Field Hockey season begins on Friday, Aug. 30 with teams in non-conference action. The first conference contest is the next day on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with Albertus Magnus hosting Lasell with the full conference play date taking place on Saturday, Sept. 14. Teams will complete a 12-game single round robin conference season with the top-eight teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the 2024 GNAC Field Hockey Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Nov. 2 with the winners moving on to the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The tournament will conclude with the GNAC Championship match on Saturday, Nov. 9 with winner claiming the title of GNAC Champion and earning the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.
2024 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
|
1. |
Johnson & Wales |
168 (12) |
|
T-2. |
Lasell |
140 (1) |
|
T-2. |
Simmons |
140 |
|
4. |
Colby-Sawyer |
134 |
|
5. |
New England College |
131 |
|
6. |
Rivier |
103 |
|
7. |
Saint Joseph's (Maine) |
84 |
|
8. |
University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) |
74 |
|
9. |
Regis |
64 |
|
10. |
Dean |
54 |
|
T-11. |
Albertus Magnus |
37 |
|
T-11. |
Anna Maria |
37 |
|
13. |
Elms |
17 |
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 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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