Preview: Season Opener at Quinnipiac

Friday, August 26

Hamden, Conn.

1:00 PM

Boston College

Quinnipiac

Photo by: John Quackenbos

August 25, 2016 | Field Hockey

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The Eagles kick off the 2016 season on Friday on the road

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The No. 8 Boston College field hockey team is set to open the 2016 season on Friday, August 26, when the team travels to play Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. at the Bobcats' QU Turf Field in Hamden, Conn.

The Eagles will enter Friday's game carrying their highest-ever preseason ranking after the NFHCA unveiled its season-opening poll on Tuesday. Last year, BC was 13-9 overall and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history after previously advancing to the semifinals of the ACC Championship for the first time in team history. Quinnipiac, which posted a 9-11 overall record in 2015 with a 5-1 mark in the MAAC, is unranked.

This will be the 13th all-time meeting between the programs as BC leads the series, 12-0. The series began in 2002 and the squads have met once every season since 2006.

Last year, the Eagles topped the Bobcats, 4-0, on Aug. 30 at the Newton Field Hockey Complex. Four different Eagles scored in the victory – Elizabeth Dennehy, Lucy Lytle, Kelcie Hromisin and AshLeigh Sebia – while Emily McCoy picked up a pair of assists.

Overall, BC has posted eight shutouts against Quinnipiac, including 3-0 and 4-0 wins in the last two games.

Among the field players, McCoy returns for her senior season after earning All-America honors as a junior in 2015. She was the Eagles' leading scorer last season with 26 points (10 goals, 6 assists), followed by her twin sister, Eryn McCoy, who had 24 points (9 goals, 6 assists). Sophomore defender Frederique Haverhals was BC's fifth-leading scorer in 2015 – posting 4 goals and 9 assists for 17 points – and the next top returnee. Senior back Alexa Brazauskas will captain the 2016 squad.

Friday's game could feature a host of collegiate debuts for the Eagles. Head coach Kelly Doton's team has welcomed six freshmen this preseason after graduating five players. Included in that departed group was All-American and four-year starter in goal, Leah Settipane. Two goalkeepers – redshirt junior Audra Hampsch and freshman Sarah Dwyer – will vie for the starting nod on Friday.

For up-to-date information from the team, follow @BCFieldHockey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.