Field Hockey Receiving Votes In NFHCA Top-20 Coaches Poll
9/7/2010 5:06:28 PM | Field Hockey
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The undefeated Davidson field hockey team is receiving votes in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Top 20 National Coaches Poll for the second time in program history.
In the latest edition of the poll released Tuesday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, Davidson totaled four points. The poll is voted upon by NFHCA member coaches.
It is the first time Davidson has received votes since the final poll of the 2008 season when the 'Cats received 16 points to be effectively ranked 26th in the nation.
The Wildcats have won their first four games and are off to their best start ever under head coach Ginny Turner, and the team's best since 1999, when the Wildcats also started the season 4-0. Davidson has also earned three shutout wins over Bryant, St. Francis and Lafayette.
Three Wildcats top the NorPac scoring list. Senior midfielder Jennie Mostellar (New Bern, N.C.) leads the league with 11 points on five goals and one assist, and is followed by sophomore forward Finley Amato (Lake Forest, Ill.) with 10 points (4g, 2a) and junior forward Christine Rua (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with eight points (4 goals).
Mostellar was named the NorPac Offensive Player of the Week following the season's opening week, while sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Fisher (Fredericksburg, Va.) earned the most recent conference defensive player of the week honor.
Davidson faces strong competition within the conference, though. NorPac West division member Stanford moved up to No. 19 in the nation, while California and NorPac East member Radford are both receiving votes, earning 16 and 13 points respectively.
No. 8 Wake Forest will take on the 'Cats at Belk Turf Field Friday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. Other Davidson 2010 opponents receiving votes include Richmond (Sept. 25) and VCU (Oct. 16).
The Wildcats look to remain undefeated when they travel to William & Mary Friday for a 4 p.m. game, before taking on Penn in a neutral-site game Sunday at 2 p.m.