BOSTON - Two America East field hockey members are ranked in the Top 10 of the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll. Stanford, an associate member in field hockey starting this season, is No. 6 while Albany, fresh off a trip to the Final Four a season ago, is tied with Penn State at No. 7.
America East is joined by the ACC and Big Ten as the only field hockey conferences with multiple teams ranked in the top 10.
Stanford, the preseason favorite in the West Division, has 15 letterwinners back from last year's team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, including first-team All-America goalkeeper Dulcie Davies. The Cardinal kick off their season Friday with No. 4 Syracuse.
Albany, the conference's East Division favorite, returnsv 14 players, including seven starters from last year's team, including NFHCA Player of the Year Paula Heuser, who racked up 69 points last year and led the nation averaging 3.0 ppg. The Great Danes open play at Miami (Ohio) Friday.