Owls earn top five spot in NCAC preseason poll

8/18/2026 4:15:00 PM

CLEVELAND -- The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) released today the results of its 2026 Field Hockey Poll, which showed the Kenyon College Owls predicted to land in fifth place.

The poll is based on preseason balloting of the 11 conference coaches. Eight members of the conference have field hockey programs, while the conference counts Allegheny College, Washington and Jefferson College, and Transylvania University as affiliate members for field hockey.

The 2026 poll was topped by Denison University, which collected six first-place votes and 115 points overall. Ohio Wesleyan University slotted second in the poll with three first-place votes and 111 points. Third place went to DePauw University, which garnered the other two first-place votes and 98 points.

Wittenberg University took the fourth spot with 80 points, just ahead of Kenyon, which tallied 77 points.

One season ago, the Owls were 5-11 overall and finished fifth in the NCAC standings with a 5-4 mark. Denison, DePauw and Ohio Wesleyan shared the conference title, each with 8-1 marks. Denison then outlasted Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1, to win the conference tournament title.

The 2026 Owls have a new coaching staff, headed by Meridith Thorpe. The team also welcomes five new members of the first-year class after having lost just one player to graduation last season. Additionally, the 2026 team will be an experienced one, as seven members of the 20-player roster are in the senior season.

The Kenyon team will get the 2026 campaign underway on Saturday, September 5 with a home contest against Concordia University.

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