(Posted November 3, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The easiest way to get into the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championships for Juniata College is to win the Landmark Conference Tournament and earn an automatic qualifying bid. But, being ranked in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll for five weeks in a row now does not hurt the team's chances either. They remain at no. 18 in this week's poll, released today.

The Eagles played one game this week, defeating the State University of New York College at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) 4-3 on Saturday, October 31, for the final tune-up before the playoffs start Wednesday, Nov. 4. The team's other game versus Kean University earlier in the week was canceled due to poor field conditions.

Messiah College holds strong in the number one spot. The Falcons are now 17-0 and received 978 points with 48 first place votes. Behind them in second is Salisbury University with 900 points. Ursinus College continues to stay in third with 847 points. SUNY Cortland jumps up two spots to fourth with 768. The Red Dragons are the only other undefeated team at 18-0. Rounding out the top five is Tufts University who gathered 765 points with the only other first place vote.

The Eagles garnered 160 points, 15 points behind 17th ranked Johns Hopkins University. The Eagles are now 15-3 overall and went through the Landmark Conference regular season at a perfect 6-0 mark.

Juniata earned home-field advantage throughout the 2009 conference tournament and will start the defense of its title Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2:30 p.m., when it takes on the fourth seed, Drew University. Juniata defeated the Rangers in the regular season, 2-1, on Drew's home field. The semifinal game will be played on Winton Hill Field.

-30-

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.