Saint Joseph's field hockey program continues to cement its place among the nation's elite, earning a No. 20 spot in the latest NFHCA preseason coaches poll for the 2026 season.
The Hawks have now appeared in the preseason rankings for eight straight full campaigns, a streak that was only interrupted by the COVID‑affected 2020‑21 season.
The poll features Northwestern at the top, followed by North Carolina and Princeton in second and third place, while Harvard and Virginia round out the top five.
A challenging slate of ranked opponents
The Hawks will meet seven teams that were ranked in the preseason poll, including UConn at No. 11, Liberty at No. 8, Maryland at No. 13, Louisville at No. 19, Duke at No. 6, Princeton at No. 3 and the Tar Heels, listed at No. 1.
The season opens with a home matchup against UConn on Sunday at Ellen Ryan Field, setting the tone for a schedule that blends home and road contests against top‑ten competition.
Liberty, ranked No. 8, is slated to visit Hawk Hill on September 4, while Maryland and Louisville will host the Hawks on September 13 and 20, respectively.
Later in the fall, Saint Joseph's will travel to face Duke, the No. 6 team, on October 4, and will welcome the Tar Heels back to Ellen Ryan Field on October 9.
The campaign concludes with a road trip to Princeton, the No. 3 team, on October 25, a rematch of last year's Final Four that saw the Tigers fall just short of the national championship.
Both Princeton and the Tar Heels reached the Final Four a season ago, with Princeton finishing as runners‑up, underscoring the high stakes of the upcoming contests.
The first game of the year is scheduled for Friday at noon, when Saint Joseph's will host New Hampshire to kick off what promises to be a competitive and exciting season.