FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team earned the top spot in the 2023 Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning six of the eight first-place votes. The poll was based on a vote of the eight conference head coaches.

With Fairfield ranking first, Wagner College and Rider University are next in line as co-holders of the second-place slot. Wagner was tabbed for the other two first-place votes in the voting. LIU holds down the fourth position in the poll while Saint Francis University secured fifth place in the ranking. Sacred Heart (6th), Merrimack (7th), and Stonehill (8th) round out the 2023 Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Head Coach Jackie Kane led the Stags to an 11-9 overall finish in 2022 along with five wins in seven NEC contests. Fairfield advanced to the NEC championship game following a semifinal win over Wagner but fell in overtime to Rider in the championship contest.

Senior Carmel Van Dijk returns as the team's top scorer, recording three goals and six assists for 13 points during her 20 appearances.  Sophomore Alex Senior comes off a solid rookie campaign, tallying five goals and two assists for 12 points. Goalkeeper Payton Rahn established herself as one of the conference's top goalkeepers, registering a 1.87 goals against average with a .721 save percentage (98 saves in 20 appearances.

The team opens the campaign at Hofstra University on August 29 before taking on the University of Iowa in a neutral setting on the campus of University at Albany on September 1. The Stags begin the home portion of their schedule on Monday, September 4 when they welcome Bryant University at University Field. Game time is set for 11 am for the Labor Day meeting. T