Denison Field Hockey Selected as Favorite in NCAC Preseason Poll

CLEVELAND, OH – Denison has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Field Hockey Poll based on balloting of the league coaches.

The Big Red edged out Ohio Wesleyan for the top spot in the preseason poll after earning six of the 11 first-place votes and 115 total points, while the Battling Bishops collected three first-place votes for 111 total points. DePauw claimed the remaining two first-place votes and finished third with 98 points and Wittenberg was fourth with 80 points, followed by Kenyon in fifth (77) and Allegheny in sixth (61). Washington & Jefferson (49), John Carroll (43), Oberlin (43), Wooster (31), and Transylvania (18) round out the 11-team field.
 
Denison capped the 2025 season at 12-7 overall and 8-1 in NCAC play, sharing the conference title with Ohio Wesleyan and DePauw, who also finished 8-1 in league play. Head coach P.J. Soteriades and assistant coach Allie Hosto return three All-NCAC selections for the 2026 season, including senior Emma Gebhart (Carlisle, MA/Concord Carlisle), a two-time NCAC Offensive Player of the Year (2024, 2025); senior Tabitha Chandler (Washington, DC/National Cathedral School), a two-time NCAC Defensive Player of the Year (2024, 2025); and sophomore Lulu Keil (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest), the 2025 NCAC Newcomer of the Year. During her junior campaign, Gebhart led the league in goals (22), assists (9), points (53), shots (90) and shots on goal (61), including 18 goals, eight assists and 44 points against conference opponents. Chandler anchored a Denison defense that allowed just three goals in nine NCAC games, posting a 0.33 goals-against average and six shutouts. Keil, who started all 18 games as a first-year, ranked among the league's top five in shots on goal (29), goals (11), game-winning goals (5), assists (5) and points (27), while recording eight goals and four assists for 20 points in conference play.

The 2026 NCAC field hockey season begins Tuesday, September 1, with non-conference play, while the first NCAC matchups will take place on September 8 with Transylvania hosting Ohio Wesleyan, Washington & Jefferson traveling to Kenyon, and DePauw taking on Wittenberg at home.
 
2026 North Coast Athletic Conference
Field Hockey Coaches' Poll
Rank School (1st Place Votes) Points
1 Denison (6) 115
2 Ohio Wesleyan (3) 111
3 DePauw (2) 98
4 Wittenberg 80
5 Kenyon 77
6 Allegheny 61
7 Washington & Jefferson 49
8 John Carroll 43
8 Oberlin 43
10 Wooster 31
11 Transylvania 18
 
 

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