The reigning NCAA Division II champions are going to be under pressure again in the 2024 Fall field hockey season, as college coaches have picked the Golden Bears as No. 1 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll sponsored by Penn Monto.
Kutztown went 19-3 in 2023 and lost to both Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rivals East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg once during the regular season. The Bears, in the Division II championship game, took down East Stroudsburg 2-1 to win their first-ever natty last season.
East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg ranked No. 2 and 3 respectively in the first DII NFHCA poll.
According to the NFHCA, “The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll is a composite ranking of the top 10 teams with a .500 or better record in the nation each week. Each Division II team with an NFHCA member coach is permitted one vote for the ranking each week.
Polls are announced every Tuesday during the field hockey playing season.
The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches Poll is voted on by NFHCA member coaches and has no bearing on selection to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship.”
Here are the Division II teams ranked in the preseason poll:
10. Millersville University
9. Pace University
8. Bloomsburg University
7. Mount Olive University
6. West Chester University
5. Saint Anselm College
4. Assumption University
3. Shippensburg University
2. East Stroudsburg University
1. Kutztown University
Photo: Kutztown Athletics
