9/7/2021 1:47:00 PM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team surged to No. 1 in the first regular-season Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll of the 2021 season, the NFHCA announced Tuesday (Sept. 7). It is the Wolverines' first No. 1 ranking in program history.
Michigan has previously listed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings, including in the 2021 preseason poll after claiming runner-up honors in the NCAA championship game last spring. The Wolverines defeated No. 1 North Carolina, 3-2, in the season opener at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Aug. 27. UNC had held the No. 1 spot every week dating back to Sept. 11, 2018.
The Wolverines are 3-0 on the season, following the UNC win with a 2-0 decision against No. 11 Wake Forest (Aug. 29) and an 8-0 rout at Central Michigan (Sept. 5).
The NFHCA Coaches Poll is a composite ranking of the top 25 teams in the nation each week, with each Division I team permitted one vote for the ranking. Michigan garnered 25 first-place votes, while No. 2 Iowa earned nine first-place votes. The Big Ten Conference boasts six teams in the updated top 10, while previously No. 1 North Carolina dropped to fourth in the poll.
The Wolverines host Ball State for their home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 10) at Phyllis Ocker Field. Admission is free to all regular-season home events, while the game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.
