Field Hockey Ranked Third in NFHCA Preseason Poll

8/26/2014 3:30:00 PM

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Aug. 26, 2014) - On Tuesday, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) released its Division II Preseason Poll for 2014. LIU Post was listed third on the Top-10 census.
 
Headlining the NFHCA list were Millersville and Shippensburg, with 159 and 142 total points, respectively. In 2013, Millersville beat Shippensburg to claim the PSAC Championship, but the Raiders would go on to capture the NCAA Division II National Championship. The Pioneers received a total of 131 points, good for third, and following with 116 points and two first-place tallies was West Chester. Merrimack rounded out the NFHCA Top-5 with 81 points.
 
Last season, the LIU Post squad recorded a program-best 21-1 mark. The Pioneers' postseason march earned them a NE-10 Conference title and a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The green and gold remained undefeated all the way to the NCAA final, where they fell short in heartbreaking fashion.
 
Returning for the Pioneers in 2014 is Dani Crouse (Westville, South Africa), who anchors the Pioneer defensive unit and solidified a back line that owned the nation's second-best goals-against average (0.85) and touted the country's top scoring margin (3.25). She added some offense from her defensive position as well, finding the back of the cage six times and dishing out 14 assists. Crouse was chosen to the NFHCA/Longstreth and Synapse Sports All-America first-team for her efforts.
 
LIU Post welcomes back offensive standout Keliann Margiotta (Sewell, N.J.) as well. Margiotta powered the Pioneer offense with 26 goals and 15 assists for 67 points in 2013. Good for third in the nation with a 3.05 points-per-game margin, she also boasted the third-most goals (26) and fourth-best goals-per-game average (1.18) in the country. Plus, the Sewell, N.J. native had the second-best assist (15) and assist-per-game (0.68) output in all of Division II. Margiotta's play earned her an NFHCA/Longstreth All-America second-team nod and a spot on the Synapse Sports All-America first-team.
 
The Pioneers begin their 2014 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 9 against Dowling. Action is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m.
 
2014 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II Preseason Poll
1. Millersville (Eight First-Place Votes) - 159 Points
2. Shippensburg (Seven First-Place Votes) - 142 Points4. West Chester (Two First-Place Votes) - 116 Points
5. Merrimack - 81 Points
6. Bloomsburg - 77 Points
7. Stonehill - 71 Points
8. East Stroudsburg - 42 Points
9. Indiana (Pa.) - 34 Points
10. Bentley - 17 Points