FAN: NFHCA: Northwestern takes over at No. 1 after seven weeks of Division I college field hockey, Drexel joins nationally-ranked list

There’s a new No. 1 in the Division I National Field Hockey Coaches poll following one week of notable college games.

Northwestern has reclaimed the top spot, and North Caroline moves down one to No. 2. The Wildcats are 15-0 on the season after seven weeks of college field hockey action.

Through 15 games, Northwestern has allowed eight goals, and has scored 57 goals. They are scoring an average of 3.80 goals per game. North Carolina is scoring an average of 4 goals per game.

During the history-making week, the Ohio State came from behind to defeat Maryland in a down-to-wire game for the first time in program history. The final score was 2-1 with the Buckeyes scoring two fourth-quarter goals for the dub.

Rutgers then handed OSU its second loss of the season two days later, which is unsurprising in the Big Ten Conference.

Makenna. Webster.

Ohio State SCORES with 29 seconds left to play!!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/mNKSbvAvyK

— Ohio State Field Hockey (@OhioStateFH) October 18, 2024

St. Joe’s continues to also climb moving up one spot to No. 5. The two losses on their 2024 schedule have been to Atlantic-10 rival the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and to its Big East opponent the University of Connecticut.

And, not listed as a ranked team, but should be commended, is Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina, which beat Ball State, for its first-ever NCAA Division I contest.

Of note, Queens is transitioning from NCAA Division II and will look to successfully complete the reclassification process during the 2025-26 season to become a full Division I member in 2026-27, according to the university’s athletic department.

According to the NFHCA, “the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll is a composite ranking of the top 20 teams with a .500 or better record in the nation each week. Each Division I team with an NFHCA member coach is permitted one vote for the ranking each week.

“Polls are announced every Tuesday during the field hockey playing season.

The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll is voted on by NFHCA member coaches and has no bearing on selection to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.”

The following teams received the most votes cast by NFHCA members. The list is the rank, team name, record, and last position held in the prior poll.

Bolded teams have moved position higher or lower from week-to-week.

20. Drexel, 11-4, (Not ranked)

19. Temple, 9-5, (20)

18. Liberty, 9-5, (19)

17. Penn State, 8-7, (16)

16. Iowa, 8-6, (17)

15. UMass-Amherst, 12-4, (14)

14. UAlbany, 12-3, (13)

13. Princeton, 9-4, (15)

12. Syracuse, 10-4, (12)

11. Harvard, 10-3, (10)