The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team has been picked third in the Ivy League preseason poll for the upcoming season. This announcement was made by the conference on Monday morning, with Penn totaling 87 voting points. Harvard, who emerged victorious in the inaugural Ivy League Field Hockey Tournament last year, claimed the top spot with 124 voting points and 13 first-place votes. Princeton, the runner-up in the tournament, secured the second position with 113 voting points and three first-place votes.
In the 2023 season, Penn had a record of 7-10, including a 5-2 mark against Ivy League opponents. The team tied for second place in the conference alongside Cornell and Princeton. The Quakers also earned a spot in the first-ever Ivy Tournament, where they were defeated by eventual champion Harvard in the semifinals with a score of 1-0.
Penn will be returning four All-Ivy selections in 2024, including senior Courtney Kenah, who ranked in the top five among all Ivy League players in total assists with eight. Other returning players include junior Julia Ryan, senior Sophie Freedman, and senior Kylie Wall. Additionally, the team has welcomed eight freshmen who are expected to make an impact on the field.
Heading into her 15th year as head coach, Colleen Fink has added Charlotte Vaziri to her coaching staff as an assistant. Vaziri is making the transition to the collegiate level after previously coaching at the high school and club levels. This new addition to the coaching staff brings fresh perspectives and strategies to the team.
The Quakers will kick off their season on September 6 against the reigning national champion North Carolina Tar Heels at noon as part of the ACC/Ivy League Conference Crossover hosted by Louisville. Following this matchup, Penn will face off against the Cardinals on September 8 at 1:30 p.m.
The 2024 Ivy League Field Hockey Preseason Poll ranks Harvard in first place with 124 points, followed by Princeton with 113 points. Penn is placed third with 87 points, closely followed by Cornell with 86 points. The rest of the conference rankings include Yale in fifth place with 67 points, Dartmouth in sixth with 40 points, Brown in seventh with 38 points, and Columbia in eighth with 21 points.
For the latest updates on Penn field hockey, fans can follow @PennFieldHockey on X (formerly Twitter) and on Instagram, as well as visit PennAthletics.com for more information. The team is gearing up for an exciting season ahead, and fans can show their support by using the hashtag #FightOnPenn.