Maryland field hockey was ranked No. 3 in the first national preseason poll of the season, the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced Tuesday.
Maryland received six first-place votes and 871 total voting points. The Terps are ranked behind only last year’s national champion, North Carolina, and last year’s runner-up, Northwestern. Maryland fell to Northwestern, 2-1, in the Final Four last season.
The Terps’ No. 3 rank is their highest in the preseason poll since 2019, when they entered the year ranked second nationally.
Like their ranking suggests, expectations are high for Maryland this year as it enters its 36th year under head coach Missy Meharg.