Boston College Athletics
Field Hockey Ranks Ninth in STX/NFHCA Preseason Poll
August 21, 2007 | Field Hockey
Aug. 21, 2007
Chestnut Hill, Mass.--Boston College ranked ninth in the country in the 2007 STX/NFHCA Preseason Poll released Tuesday, Aug. 21. Atlantic Coast Conference teams dominate the top 10 for the second year in a row.
Maryland, the two-time defending National Champion, holds the number one spot in the preseason poll, followed by Wake Forest, North Carolina and Duke. Virginia rounds out the ACC teams, ranking eighth.
BC will take on three other opponents ranked in the top 20 in 2007. Connecticut is their highest-ranked, non-conference foe, placing fifth. They also take on No. 17 Providence and No. 20 Boston University.
The Eagles ended their 2006 campaign at the ninth spot in the poll with a 14-6 record, 2-3 in the ACC. They made an early exit from the ACC Tournament in a first round loss to Virginia. The team hopes advance further this November when the tournament takes place on the Eagles' home field. This is the first time Boston College will host an ACC Tournament since joining the conference in 2005.
The Eagles return eight starters, including the top scorers for the past two seasons, Bob Dirks and Crystal Frates. Julia Berkowitz, the junior captain, guards the net again after earning All-ACC and Northeast All-Region honors in 2006. The Eagles added seven newcomers to their roster as well.
Boston College opens their season on the road in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 25, against Stanford at 1:00 p.m. They play again in the same location against Pacific on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2:00 p.m.
