2024 Northeast Conference Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll                   1. Fairfield (4)                 2. Sacred Heart (3)                 3. Wagner (2)                 4. Rider                 5. Saint Francis U                 6. LIU                 7. Stonehill                 8. Merrimack                 9. Mercyhurst                First place votes in parentheses

Bridgewater, NJ –- A fully loaded Fairfield squad is coming back with a vengeance in 2024.

The Stags rolled through the conference slate with an unblemished mark and secured the league's regular season crown a year ago, but came up short of their ultimate goal - hoisting the coveted NEC Championship trophy for the third time in program history. The target returns to the Stags' back, though, as they rose to the top of this year's preseason poll, garnering four first-place votes from the conference's head coaches. 

Defending NEC Tournament champion Sacred Heart claimed three top-place tallies to place second in the annual preseason coaches' poll, while 2023 runner-up Wagner earned the remaining two votes to rank third.

Rounding out the remainder of the preseason prediction was Rider (fourth), Saint Francis U (fifth), LIU (sixth), Stonehill (seventh), Merrimack (eighth) and NEC newcomer Mercyhurst (ninth).

The Stags storm into this upcoming season with three returning major award winners from last year's dominant squad, which outscored fellow league competitors by a commanding 26-4 margin. Leading the charge on defense is reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year Madison Milhous (Villanova, PA/Radnor), while NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Payton Rahn (Orange, CT/Amity) will remain a force in goal. The Fairfield back line calculated the best GAA in the conference with a 1.11 along with Rahn individually leading the NEC in save percentage (.768) and shutouts (5).

Senior Agustina Casteluchi (Salta, Argentina), the league’s first-ever Midfielder of the Year a season ago, is also back for the Stags after a stellar junior year that saw her total 11 points on four goals and three assists. All-Conference second teamer and rising sophomore Catalina Ness (Hamburg, Germany/Gymnasium Christianeum) will line up alongside Casteluchi to add even more depth and experience in the midfield. Alex Senior (Marlton, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) is set to make her return to the field for a Stags' loaded offense that racked up 133 points and put the ball in the back of the cage 49 times over the course of the year. The rising junior notched 18 points on eight goals and two assists last season to finish eighth amongst league scorers. 

Casteluchi, Milhous, Rahn and Senior all received NFHCA All-Region Honors. Casteluchi earned a first team nod, while the remaining three landed on the second team.

After winning their first conference tournament title since 2005, the Pioneers aim to become the first NEC field hockey squad to win consecutive titles since Rider accomplished the feat from 2010 through 2012.

Sacred Heart brings back a plethora of talent, including two members of last season’s All-Tournament team in the likes of back Emma Brayford (Breiningsville, PA/Parkland High School) and goalie Samantha Maresca (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck). The defensive duo was key in the Pioneers' thrilling 1-0 overtime championship victory against Wagner as they combined for 14 saves. Maresca tied a NEC tournament game record with 13.

A memorable season for Wagner came just short of a storybook ending in 2023. Ripping off wins in their final three regular season matches to clinch the final playoff spot, the Seahawks upended top-seeded Fairfield to advance to the title game for the first time in program history on their home turf.

It will be a rebuliding year for Wagner as the roster is littered with transfers and first-year student-athletes, however two familiar faces in All-NEC honorees Emma Lofstedt (Durban, South Africa/Our Lady of Fatima) and Charlotte Müller (Bremen, Germany/Kippenberg Gymnasium) will lead the charge and with hopes of repeating last season’s success. Lofstedt ranked ninth in the NEC for assists a year ago with four.

Mercyhurst comes into the conference battle-tested for its Division I debut. The Lakers faced off against seven top-10 opponents in their final season at the Division II level in 2023.

The Lakers and Broncs open conference play on Sunday, Sept 1 while the first full day of NEC matches — a four-game slate — is set to take place on Friday, Sept. 27. The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the NEC Tournament in November.

Stonehill is eligible for the NEC Tournament for the second time this season, but the Skyhawks remain ineligible to receive the conference’s automatic bid until 2026. Mercyhurst will be able to qualify for the NEC postseason in 2026 and is eligible for the NCAA Tournament in 2028. 

About The Northeast Conference
Now entering its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.