Cardinals check in at No. 11 in NFHCA preseason poll

WASHINGTON – After winning its first conference championship and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament last season, the CUA field hockey team has been pegged No. 11 in the 2012 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III preseason poll, released on Tuesday.  The Cardinals tied the school record for wins last season with 17, including a perfect 6-0 ledger within the Landmark Conference.

CUA went a perfect 11-0 at home in 2011, including 3-0 in the postseason.  Despite losing three All-Conference performers and a pair of All-Americans off that team, the Cardinals return a strong lineup, led by senior captain Catherine Mirsky, who will anchor the defense.

A trio of All-Region selections, including Colleen Harwood, Maura Campbell and Kim Hermann, combined to score 32 goals and 76 points, with Harwood earning the Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year award for her efforts.

CUA rose all the way to No. 9 in last year's poll, which was its highest ranking ever.  The Cardinals also defeated a No. 1 ranked team for the first time in school annals.

To view the entire preseason poll, click here.

CUA opened preseason camp earlier this week and has its sights set on September 1 when the Cards will travel to take on Washington College at 1 p.m.  CUA's home opener is slated for one week later, when Elizabethtown comes to town.