Gulls soar to No. 2 in Kookaburra/NFHCA rankings

CHANDLER, Ariz. - The Salisbury University field hockey team moved up four spots to No. 2 in the Kookaburra/NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) Division III Poll, released Tuesday. The Gulls received 941 points and nine first-place votes in the poll this week, a close second to Messiah College's 978 points. Salisbury was initially ranked No. 6 in the nation in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III Preseason Poll.

The Sea Gulls' rise in the rankings comes in part from their 2-0 victory against Ursinus College, previously ranked No. 3. The Bears dropped two spots to No. 5 in this week's poll after being shut out for the first time since 2003, by the Gulls. Salisbury is a perfect 5-0 on the season, having outscored their opponents 30-1. The Sea Gulls are the only Capital Athletic Conference team ranked in the poll this week.

Salisbury's schedule won't be easy in the coming weeks, as the Gulls face three ranked teams in a row. Before they face No. 1 Messiah at home on Sept. 19, the Gulls will host No. 8 Johns Hopkins University tomorrow, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. They will then face No. 10 Rowan University on Sept. 23 at home before hitting the road for five consecutive games.

2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Polls

• Week 2 - 09/15/09 (PDF)
• Preseason poll (PDF)