Three Northeast 10 Conference field hockey squads featured in last year’s 2023 NCAA Division II field hockey tournament top the list of the 2024 NE10 preseason coaches’ poll.
The poll was released this week and noted that conference play gets underway in September. The league championship is scheduled for November 10.
According to the conference’s statement: “Assumption, 12-1 last season in NE10 play and undefeated in regulation and overtime, advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals last season. The Greyhounds return as a veteran bunch this fall with both Elle Murray and Mia Salah returning. That duo combined for 22 of the team’s 68 goals a year ago. Paige Gillette, one of the top returning goaltenders in the country, is also expected to return in the cage for the ‘Hounds.
Saint Anselm began their season early, heading to Spain for a foreign tour in August. The Hawks received four first-place votes in the NE10 preseason coaches poll and rank second overall behind Assumption. Saint A’s clinched the NE10 title last year on a penalty stroke by a returning Maggie Burchill before an appearance in the NCAA Championship, falling in a conference title rematch with Assumption.
The NE10 put three teams in the NE10 Championship last season, with the Pace Setters rounding out the bunch. Pace brings back the most notable player in the league with NE10 Player of the Year and All-American Krista Dietz. The rising-senior led the country in scoring last fall with 2.95 points per game. She’s the first Pace player to win the conference’s top individual honor.”
NE10 2024 Preseason Field Hockey Poll
| Rank | Team | Votes (1st Place) |
| 1 | Assumption Greyhounds | 165 (9) |
| 2 | Saint Anselm Hawks | 158 (5) |
| 3 | Pace Setters | 139 |
| 4 | Bentley Falcons | 137 |
| 5 | SNHU Penmen | 119 |
| 6 | Adelphi Panthers | 115 |
| 7 | New Haven Chargers | 89 |
| 8 | Franklin Pierce Ravens | 74 |
| 9 | Mercy Mavericks | 63 |
| 10 | St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans | 60 |
| 11 | Southern Connecticut State Owls | 57 |
| 12 | Saint Michael’s Purple Knights | 45 |
| 13 | American Int’l Yellow Jackets | 39 |
| 14 | Molloy Lions | 14 |
