GILBERT, Ariz. – The Ursinus College field hockey team made a big move in the first regular-season edition of the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Coaches Poll, jumping up six spots to No. 13.
The Bears (2-1) tied with Bowdoin for the largest ascension in the weekly rankings, a well-deserved reward for an impressive week that included a 2-1 victory over then-No. 4 Messiah and a 4-0 shutout at William Smith. Gemma Dufoe scored both goals as Ursinus defeated Messiah for the first time since 2015.
Defending national champion Middlebury retained the top spot in the poll, while Rowan moved up one spot to No. 2. Ursinus' only loss came at the hands of the Profs, who pulled out a 5-4 thriller in double overtime in the season opener.
Reigning Centennial Conference champion Johns Hopkins fell three spots to No. 8 following a loss at Christopher Newport, while Franklin & Marshall dropped one place to No. 11. Future Ursinus opponent TCNJ ascended one spot to No. 5.
The Bears put their new ranking to the test this week with games against Elizabethtown (Wednesday) and at Washington and Lee (Sunday).