MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll & All-MAAC Team

Defending MAAC Champion Fairfield University Selected
As Preseason Field Hockey Favorite,
Burgoyne Named Preseason Player of the Year

EDISON, NJ – Fairfield University was selected as the 2016 MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Favorites as voted upon by the leagues seven head coaches. The Stags totaled 48 points and six out of seven first-place votes.

The Stags won its first ever MAAC Field Hockey Championship a season ago after going 3-3 in conference play and 9-10 overall. Fairfield University knocked off Monmouth University 2-1 in the semifinals and would go on to defeat Quinnipiac University 2-0 in the championship game. Stags forward and reigning MAAC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year, Ann Burgoyne, was voted as the 2016 MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, she led the conference in points (40), goals (19), goals per game (1.06) and points per game (2.22). Joining Burgoyne on the 2016 MAAC Field Hockey All-MAAC Preseason Team are her Stags teammates: goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett, defender Erin Buckley, the 2015 MAAC Field Hockey Player of the Year, Julie De Paeuw, a unanimous selection, and defender Maclaine Matties.

Monmouth University, the 2015 MAAC Field Hockey Co-Regular Season Champions finished in second place in the preseason poll totaling 42 points and receiving the other first-place vote. The Hawks went 5-1 in conference play and 8-11 overall in 2015. Three Hawks were named to the 2016 All-MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Team: Forward Meg Donahue, midfielder Alyssa Ercolino and the 2015 MAAC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year, Casey Hanna, who was a unanimous selection to the All-MAAC Preseason Team.

Rider University totaled 35 points to finish third in the preseason poll. The Broncs were 4-2 in the MAAC last season and 12-7 overall. Midfielder Carlota Alsina and Allison Baligian were selected to the 2016 All-MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Team. Baligian led the conference in game-winning goals (5), shots (62) and shots per game (3.26). She finished second in points (27), points per game (1.42), goals (13) and goals per game (0.68).

Sacred Heart University comes in fourth place in the preseason poll with 23 points. Rebecca Hauser and Nichole Tolli were voted onto the 2016 All-MAAC Preseason Team at midfield.

Rounding out the preseason poll is Siena College, Bryant University and newcomers to the MAAC LIU Brooklyn. The Saints, Bulldogs and Blackbirds finished fifth through seventh, respectively in the preseason poll. Forward Victory Danby was named to the 2016 All-MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Team at forward for the Bulldogs.

Below are the results from the preseason coaches’ poll and the 2016 All-MAAC Field Hockey Preseason Team.

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Fairfield (6) – 48pts
2. Monmouth (1) – 42pts
3. Rider – 35pts
4. Sacred Heart – 23pts
5. Siena – 22pts
6. Bryant – 19pts
7. LIU Brooklyn – 7pts

Preseason All-MAAC Team

2016 Preseason Player of the Year

*denotes unanimous selection

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