The Tripod

Rarely does a team find great success before the first game, but the Trinity College field hockey team is an exception. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) ranked the Trinity women 12th in the Preseason National Poll.

The poll included 20 top Division III field hockey programs from around the country. Trinity's New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rivals Bowdoin College and Tufts University topped the list at first and second, respectively. Ursinus College, Messiah College, and The College of New Jersey rounded out the top five.

Fellow conference opponent Middlebury College made an appearance at the seventh-place spot. Only one out-of-conference team that Trinity will face this season in regular season play, Springfield College, appears in the poll. The team out of Massachusetts is ranked 19th overall. The Bantams will see them at the end of September.

According to co-captain Carrie Wolcott '10, "the NESCAC, without a doubt, is the most competitive league in Division III field hockey. Last year in the NESCAC finals, Bowdoin defeated Tufts in overtime, only to have a repeat in the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] finals, as well. Trinity beat Bowdoin in the regular season and lost to Tufts in overtime twice."

Poll results are determined by votes submitted to NFHCA by coaches around the country. "The rankings are based on a coaches' poll and the 2008 season. Trinity is deserving of the No. 12 ranking based on last year's performance. For the first time in the school's history the field hockey team received an NCAA bid, losing in overtime last year to 10th ranked Rowan College," commented Wolcott. The Bantams earned their ranking due partly to their impressive 2008 season. Their starting lineup, which included four All-Americans, earned the team's first bid to the NCAA tournament since 1998. The Bantams fought their way to the second round of play before being eliminated.

Returning this fall, Wolcott, Christy Bradley '11, and All-American Robyn Williams '12 will lead Trinity's offense. Last season, Trinity's defense allowed fewer than one goal per game. The same is expected of co-captain Meg Ryan '10 and Payson Sword '12 on defense. Meanwhile, All-American goalkeeper Gina Dinallo '12 seeks to improve the .844 save percentage she posted last season. With four of their opponents ranked ahead of them in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Pre-Season poll, the Trinity women will need to synergize their abilities in order to be successful this season.

Thus far, their preseason preparation and the added confidence of being ranked 12th in the nation have paid off. The Bantams won their first game of the season against NESCAC opponent, Colby, 4-3. Forward Christy Bradley scored the game-winning goal in overtime to secure the victory.

Middlebury College, ranked ahead of Trinity in the poll, arrives in Hartford on Saturday.

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