IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa field hockey team opens the 2021 season ranked third in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll, it was announced Tuesday by the association.
The Hawkeyes ended the 2020 season ranked fourth after advancing to their 12th Final Four in program history.
Iowa returns all 11 starters and a total of 21 letterwinners from the 2020 team that finished 12-6 overall. The returnees include three NFHCA All-Americans in Anthe Nijziel, Maddy Murphy and Ellie Holley. Nijziel was also the Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
The Hawkeyes open the 2021 season Friday, hosting No. 11 Wake Forest at 3:30 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field in the B1G/ACC Challenge. No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan open the challenge with a neutral site game beginning at 1 p.m.