Brooke Everly and Jess Davidson.
They were named the Division II defensive and offensive players of the week by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, which is spot-on.
Everly posted double-digit saves in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s game against No. 1 Shippensburg. Her defense ultimately helped the Crimson Hawks, an unranked team, hand the Raiders their only loss on the season.
Davidson scored the 1-0 game-winner in overtime.
“The difference in the game proved to be an overtime game-winner for Jess Davidson, who took a penalty corner insert from Sydney Schmouder and fired a rocket into the lower left portion of the net for her eighth goal of the season,” according to Shippensburg University.
IUP is 6-10 on the season. And, they haven’t been ranked all season.
The loss is not a negative mark on Shippensburg, which is a dynamic field hockey family. The Raiders are still ranked at No. 1 in week eight. They are playing Kutztown on Friday at Shippensburg in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinals. The game starts at 2:30 p.m.
The point FAN is making is that when you play as though every game is your last, the most surprising results can happen.
According to the NFHCA, “the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll is a composite ranking of the top 20 teams with a .500 or better record in the nation each week. Each Division I 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 I National Coaches Poll is voted on by NFHCA member coaches and has no bearing on selection to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.”
The following teams received the most votes cast by NFHCA members. The list is the rank, team name, record, and last position held in the prior poll.
Bolded teams have moved position higher or lower from week-to-week.
10. Mansfield, 10-8 (9)
9. Saint Anselm College, 13-5 (10)
8. Newberry College, 15-3, (8)
7. West Chester, 12-6 (7)
6. Assumption, 15-3 (6)
5. Southern New Hampshire, 15-2 (5)
4. Bloomsburg, 14-4 (4)
3. Kutztown, 13-4 (3)
2. East Stroudsburg, 15-3 (2)
1. Shippensburg, 16-1 (1)
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Photo: Kutztown at Shippensburg, October 2024, Bob Benscoter
