The Shippensburg University field hockey team has secured the third spot in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the conference on Monday. This ranking follows a competitive season where Shippensburg made a notable appearance in the NCAA Division II Championships, reaching the national semifinals.
Last season, Shippensburg posted a 15-5 record and concluded the regular season as the second seed in the PSAC. Their journey in the NCAA Division II Championships ended in a narrow 2-1 loss to Kutztown, determined by a penalty stroke goal in the final three minutes. The team also contended in the PSAC Championship game, where they were defeated by East Stroudsburg in overtime, 2-1.
In the latest poll, Kutztown, the reigning national champions, have been ranked first, capturing eight of the ten first-place votes. East Stroudsburg, last year’s national runners-up, is ranked second with one first-place vote. Shippensburg also received one first-place vote. West Chester and Bloomsburg complete the top five in the preseason rankings.
This year, Frostburg State joins the PSAC as an associate member for field hockey, debuting at ninth in the preseason poll.
Shippensburg’s players have already commenced preparations for the upcoming season, with preseason camp starting yesterday and the first practice held today. The team is scheduled to open its 2024 campaign on September 6 at Mount Olive, followed by their first home game against New Haven on September 13 at the Robb Sports Complex.
