Field Hockey Dips To No. 4 In STX/NFHCA Poll
10/29/2002 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 29, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland field hockey squad dipped to No. 4 in the eighth STX/NFHCA poll of the 2002 season, released Tuesday. The Terrapins (14-3, 2-2 ACC) were No. 1 in the first six coaches polls this year and have been ranked in the top 5 in every poll of the last four seasons. The Terrapins moved from the third spot last week, despite posting an impressive 7-0 victory over James Madison on Oct. 27. A loss by the Terps to No. 9 North Carolina on Oct. 26 and No. 6 Penn State's upset of the top-ranked Old Dominion Monarchs caused the shift among the top four.
With a starting line-up that includes six newcomers, Maryland opened the season with a seven-match victory streak and was rewarded with the No. 1 ranking. Now at No. 4, Maryland is 6-3 against this week's NFHCA top 20, and also defeated Delaware and Cal when they were both ranked No. 14 earlier in the season.
All five ACC field hockey schools rank in the top 20, with Wake Forest (14-2) listed third and North Carolina (9-8) at No. 8. Also joining the Terps, Demon Deacons and Tar Heels in the top 20 is No. 12 Duke (11-6) and 20th-ranked Virginia (9-8).
The Terrapins take on unranked American on "Senior Day," this Sunday at 1 p.m. Maryland played 10 regular season matches against ranked teams, and two more opponents received votes in this week's poll.
Here is a listing of the top 20 teams in the 2002 STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, as voted upon by NFHCA member coaches, with records through Oct. 27, 2002, and total points (first-place votes are in parentheses). Terrapin opponents are in bold italics.
Rank Institution (Record) Points (FPV) Prev. 1. Old Dominion (15-3) 512 (9) 1 2. Michigan (15-2) 507 (6) 2 3. Wake Forest (14-2) 500 (11) 4 4. MARYLAND (14-3) 455 3 5. Michigan State (17-2) 437 (1) 5 6. Penn State (13-3) 401 6 7. Northeastern (14-3) 339 7 8. North Carolina (9-8) 331 T-9 9. James Madison (11-6) 302 8 10. Louisville (12-7) 268 T-9 11. Kent State (11-6) 259 13 12. Duke (11-6) 249 12 13. Iowa (9-6) 210 11 14. Princeton (8-5) 186 14 15. Boston College (13-4) 141 18 16. Central Michigan (13-5) 119 17 17. Boston University (11-7) 89 16 18. Harvard (9-5) 80 15 19. Lafayette (15-2) 63 NR 20. Virginia (9-8) 58 19ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: California (39), Ball State (31), Connecticut (26), Maine (23), Ohio State (14), Richmond (9), Villanova (9), William & Mary (9), New Hampshire (2), Ohio (2).
