NEW YORK – BIG EAST defending regular-season and tournament champion Connecticut was tabbed by the field hockey head coaches as the preseason favorite in the 2021 Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Thursday by the league office. The Huskies edged Liberty by one point in the poll.
Liberty senior forward Jill Bolton shared Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors with Old Dominion sophomore forward Marlon de Bruijne. Bolton was also the preseason selection last spring. Liberty keeper Azul Iritxity Irigoyen was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
UConn and Liberty split first-place votes among the league’s head coaches four and four.