Queens Earns Top Spot in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Preseason Field Hockey Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Queens is slated to be the top team in the 2020-21 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted upon by the league's seven head coaches.

The Royals earned four first-place votes and 40 total points. They wrapped up the 2019 season with an impressive 13-7 record, going 10-2 in conference play, winning its first regular season title. The Royals fell to Limestone in the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas tournament 1-0. 

The 2019 Royals also featured two major South Atlantic Conference Carolinas awards, with Brandi Kist winning Coach of the Year and Avian Thompson earning the Defensive Player of the Year honor. 

Limestone captured the second-place slot with one first-place vote and 37 points in the poll. Finishing the 2019 season with a 15-5 overall record, going 8-4 in conference play, winning back-to-back Conference Championships. The 2019 Saints featured South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, Kelly Diplock. The forward from Harare, Zimbabwe, lead the conference in goals (14), points (37), and game-winning goals (4). She was also second in the league assists with 9.

Newberry earned the No. 3 spot with 33 points in their corner. The Wolves wrapped up the 2019 season with an overall record of 13-5, including going 9-3 in conference play.  

Belmont Abbey snagged the No. 4 spot in the poll with 26 votes to their credit. The Crusaders finished the 2019 season with a record of 7-12 overall, going 5-5 in conference action.

Coker followed closely behind in the No. 5 spot with 24 points. The Cobras completed their second season in 2019 with a record of 10-7 overall and 6-6 in conference. The Cobras had then Freshman Britt Kabo, who was the top offensive performer for the cobras in 2019, named South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year. 

Converse took home the No. 6 spot in the poll with 16 points. The Valkyries went 3-15 overall and 2-10 in the conference.

Rounding out the poll is second-year program, Mount Olive with 13 points.

In addition to the 2020-21 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, the 2020-21 Preseason All-Conference teams were also announced. Voted on by the league's media relations directors, the preseason all-conference teams features three players from Limestone, four players from Queens, two players from Coker and one player from Belmont Abbey and Newberry.

The 2021 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas spring season is set to begin on the weekend of February 9. 

FIELD HOCKEY

2020-21 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CAROLINAS PRESEASON POLL

2020-21 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CAROLINAS PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team

Kelly Diplock, Limestone

Thando Muchemenyi, Limestone

Britt Kabo, Coker 

Chantel Gauthier, Newberry

Kaleigh Cordrey, Coker

Gwendolyn Lewis, Limestone

Millie Eaton-Jones, Queens

Farai Kawonde, Newberry

Ellie Fitzgerald, Queens

Sophia Kottmer, Limestone

Lauren Delisi, Belmont Abbey

Casey Carrigan, Queens

Avian Thompson, Queens

-#MakeSACYours-