Field Hockey Projected to Repeat as MAC Champions
8/15/2017 3:01:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday that Kent State has been picked to repeat as the MAC regular season and tournament champion in 2017 as voted on by all conference head coaches.
Coming off its third-straight MAC Tournament title and fifth-straight regular season championship, Kent State will begin the 2017 season under reigning MAC Coach of the Year Kathleen Wiler on Friday, August 25 at Rutgers.
The Golden Flashes received 41 points and six first place votes to lead the MAC. Miami followed in second place with 31 points and one first place vote. Longwood was voted to end in third place with 25 points while Ball State and Ohio tied with 19 points each. MAC-newcomer Appalachian State and Central Michigan rounded out the list with four points each.
Kent State returns a strong core of the 2016 team that went a perfect 6-0 in conference play and 14-7 overall record that included postseason NCAA action. The team lost four seniors to graduation but welcomes eight new additions for 2017.
MAC play begins for the Flashes on Friday, September 15 at Appalachian State. The 2017 home-opener is scheduled for Friday, September 29 against Miami. Murphy-Mellis Field will once again host the MAC Tournament, which will be held November 3-4 for the top four regular season finishers.
2017 MAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Kent State – 41 total points (6 first place votes)
2. Miami – 35 (1)
3. Longwood – 25
T4. Ball State – 19
T4. Ohio – 19
T6. Appalachian State – 4
T6. Central Michigan – 4
Tournament Champion – Kent State
