Simmons Tabbed To Finish First In 2025 Field Hockey Preseason Poll

WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons looks to claim their spot back on top of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for the first time since 2015.  The Sharks earned 111 points, including five first-place votes, in this year's preseason poll which was conducted by the league's 11 field hockey head coaches this past week.

The Sharks produced a record of 18-4 overall (10-2 in conference play) and earned the No. 3 seed in last year's GNAC Championship Tournament, making a run to the championship game before falling short to Johnson & Wales (former member of the GNAC). 

New England College followed closely with 110 points and three first-place votes to collect the second spot. The Pilgrims allocated a 16-4 overall (10-2 GNAC) and two seed in last year's postseason play (NEC got the head to head tie-breaker over Simmons). NEC fell short of a GNAC championship appearance after a double-overtime loss to the Sharks.

Colby-Sawyer collects the third spot, accumulating 98 points and two first-place votes. The Chargers are followed by Saint Joseph's (Maine) with 83 points and Lasell (1) with 74 points to round out the top-five.

The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (72), Dean (56), and Rivier (54) placed sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Rounding out the final three in order were Regis (35), Albertus Magnus (18), and Elms (15).

The 2025 GNAC Field Hockey season begins on Friday, Aug. 29 with teams in non-conference action while the first conference contest is set to be held on Saturday, Sept. 6. Teams will complete a 10-game single round robin conference season with the top-eight teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the 2025 GNAC Field Hockey Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Nov. 1 with the winners moving on to the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The tournament will conclude with the GNAC Championship match on Saturday, Nov. 8 with winner claiming the title of GNAC Champion and earning the league's automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. 

2025 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll