NCAC Release

CLEVELAND -- After qualifying for its first-ever playoff berth last fall, the Allegheny College field hockey program earned the highest placement in program history in the North Coast Athletic Conference's (NCAC) annual preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

The Gators, who finished with a program-record 13 wins in 2022 and earned the fourth seed in the NCAC tournament, were voted fifth in this year's preseason poll of the league's head coaches. Allegheny received 78 total points and held a 12-point advantage over sixth-place Wittenberg University. Ohio Wesleyan University (115), DePauw University (107), Denison University (104), and Kenyon College (85) ranked first through fourth, respectively.

Beginning in 2023, the newly-expanded NCAC will feature 11 teams. The conference added Washington and Jefferson College and Transylvania University as affiliate members for field hockey. W&J previously competed in the Empire 8 Conference, while the Pioneers from Transylvania were in the Southern Athletic Association.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Lauren Thomas, the Gators are preparing to open the 2023 schedule at Juniata College on Saturday, September 2, at 2:00 p.m.