COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association released its 2026 preseason poll, with the ESU field hockey team starting the season ranked fourth in Division II.
 
The Warriors, who finished 2025 with a 16-4 record, enter the year behind reigning champion Shippensburg, Kutztown, and national runner-up Newberry. ESU is one spot ahead of West Chester, which eliminated them in last year's NCAA Quarterfinals, and four spots in front of Bloomsburg, the final PSAC team to make the top 10.
 
The Warriors are led by their returning fifth-year players, 2025 All-American Elaiana Rivera-Lagalla and 2025 team captain Bella Viruet, highlighting the group of nine returning upperclassmen. Replacing 13 departures from last season's team, ESU brought in two Division I transfers and 14 freshmen.
 
ESU opens 2026 at home against St. Thomas Aquinas at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, as the Warriors begin their march towards a fifth PSAC Championship and third NCAA Championship

Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches Poll - August 25, 2026 (Preseason)

Rank	Institution	Points (First Place Votes)
1	Shippensburg	77 (5)
2	Kutztown	72 (3)
3	Newberry	62
4	East Stroudsburg	55
5	West Chester	47
6	Saint Anselm	33
7	Assumption	30
8	Bloomsburg	27
9	Bentley	16
10	Lander	13