WASHINGTON – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team was once again voted number one in the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon.  In addition, graduate student Alison Buffington and seniors Erika Culp and Milou Kluyt were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
The Hawks collected 44 points in the poll, outpacing Richmond by two points.  The Spiders received one first-place vote and were ranked second, while VCU and Davidson each received a first-place vote and were slotted into third and fourth, respectively.  La Salle, Saint Louis, and Lock Haven rounded out the poll.
 
Saint Joseph's has won the last five conference titles and eight of the last nine while appearing in an Atlantic 10-record 10 consecutive conference championship games.  This year's postseason tournament will be held at VCU's Cary Street Field in Richmond, Virginia.
 
Buffington was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team a season ago after earning Preseason All-Conference honors and starting all 22 games for the Hawks.  The Enola, Pennsylvania, native is a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection as well and has been named a Scholar of Distinction by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association in each of her four years on Hawk Hill.
 
Hailing from Wyomissing, Pa., Culp is another two-time Preseason All-Conference selection who was named to both the NFHCA All-Region Second Team and All-Conference First Team in 2025.  Culp was previously tabbed for the All-Conference Second Team in 2024 and the All-Rookie Team in 2023; she is also a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection as well.
 
Kluyt, the 2025 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, earns her first Preseason All-Conference nod after a breakout 2025 campaign that saw her named to the NFHCA All-Region First Team and the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team before earning Most Outstanding Player and All-Championship honors at the Atlantic 10 Championship.  The Goirle, Netherlands, product was also named the PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Performer of the Year while earning Atlantic 10 All-Academic honors and being named to the CSC Academic All-District squad.
 
The Hawks open the 2026 season on Friday against New Hampshire at Ellen Ryan Field; game time is set for noon.
 
2026 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Saint Joseph's – 44 (4)
2. Richmond – 42 (1)
3. VCU – 37 (1)
4. Davidson – 30 (1)
5. La Salle – 19
6. Saint Louis – 15
7. Lock Haven – 9
 
First-place votes in parentheses