Field Hockey Unanimous No. 1 in NFHCA Preseason Poll
8/26/2025 10:20:00 AM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern field hockey will enter the 2025 season ranked first in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll, announced Tuesday morning.
The Aug. 26 ranking comes in as NU's first ever unanimous preseason No. 1 from the NFHCA. It is the third season in the past four years (2022, 2024) that the 'Cats lead the nation heading into regular season competition. The highest preseason ranking in Northwestern history comes on the heels of its second national title last November when it took down Saint Joseph's 5-0 in the tournament final. In their 2024 NCAA Championship season, the Wildcats spent six weeks in the number one spot.
Nine of the 17 opponents on Northwestern's regular season schedule are ranked in the preseason top 20, including two of the other four programs ranked in the top five, and six from the Big Ten.
Northwestern begins its 2025 campaign on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. CT on the road. The Wildcats take on Richmond at Crenshaw Field, before facing VCU on Monday, Sept. 1 at noon CT.
Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll — August 26, 2025 (Preseason) * First place votes in parentheses
1. Northwestern University (10)
2. University of North Carolina
3. University of Virginia
4. University of Maryland
5. Duke University
6. Harvard University
7. University of Michigan
8. Boston College
9. Saint Joseph's University
10. Princeton University
11. University of Connecticut
11. Syracuse University
13. The Ohio State University
14. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
15. University of Iowa
16. Rutgers University
17. Liberty University
18. University at Albany
18. Pennsylvania State University
20. Wake Forest University
The Aug. 26 ranking comes in as NU's first ever unanimous preseason No. 1 from the NFHCA. It is the third season in the past four years (2022, 2024) that the 'Cats lead the nation heading into regular season competition. The highest preseason ranking in Northwestern history comes on the heels of its second national title last November when it took down Saint Joseph's 5-0 in the tournament final. In their 2024 NCAA Championship season, the Wildcats spent six weeks in the number one spot.
Nine of the 17 opponents on Northwestern's regular season schedule are ranked in the preseason top 20, including two of the other four programs ranked in the top five, and six from the Big Ten.
Northwestern begins its 2025 campaign on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. CT on the road. The Wildcats take on Richmond at Crenshaw Field, before facing VCU on Monday, Sept. 1 at noon CT.
Let's work ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) August 26, 2025
Your 2025 'Cats are the unanimous No. 1 in the @NFHCA preseason poll pic.twitter.com/7irjocWfnu
Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll — August 26, 2025 (Preseason) * First place votes in parentheses
1. Northwestern University (10)
2. University of North Carolina
3. University of Virginia
4. University of Maryland
5. Duke University
6. Harvard University
7. University of Michigan
8. Boston College
9. Saint Joseph's University
10. Princeton University
11. University of Connecticut
11. Syracuse University
13. The Ohio State University
14. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
15. University of Iowa
16. Rutgers University
17. Liberty University
18. University at Albany
18. Pennsylvania State University
20. Wake Forest University
Field Hockey - 'Cats Record Fourth Straight Shutout, Blank No. 8 Boston College (9/7/25)
Sunday, September 07
Field Hockey - Wildcats Down Duke 1-0 (9/5/25)
Saturday, September 06
Field Hockey - 'Cats Open 2025 Campaign with 4-0 Rout of Richmond (8/31/25)
Thursday, September 04
"50+ Years in the Making" | The Foundation: Northwestern Field Hockey
Wednesday, April 30
