Syracuse field hockey begins 2026 season at No. 9 in NFHCA Poll
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Syracuse field hockey ranked No. 9 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Preseason Poll, which was released Tuesday morning. The Orange slot between No. 10 Miami (Ohio) and No. 8 Liberty and are one of six Atlantic Coast Conference squads to make the poll. SU didn’t receive any first-place votes.
SU’s ninth-place ranking is its highest in the preseason in three years, one short of its No. 8 placement in 2023. The Orange started the 2025 season ranked No. 11 and finished at No. 10, peaking at No. 4 in last year’s Week 2 Poll, the highest mark in head coach Lynn Farquhar’s tenure.
SU’s 2025 season ended with a 2-1 loss to then-No. 3 Princeton in the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Syracuse has since lost seven starters, including its goal leader, Bo van Kempen, and assist leader, Pati Strunk. The Orange replenished with nine freshmen and two transfers.
After garnering all 11 first-place votes, No. 1 Northwestern sits atop the poll for the third straight campaign. The Wildcats are followed by No. 2 North Carolina and No. 3 Princeton.
No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Duke, No. 7 Wake Forest, Syracuse and No. 18 Louisville round out the ACC’s representation in the poll. SU is slated to play Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and two other ranked teams this season.
Syracuse begins its 2026 season on the road against Fairfield Friday. The Orange will be tested early, playing No. 17 Rutgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Sept. 6 and won’t play at home until Sept. 18, when they host UMass Lowell.
