Aug. 21, 2012

BERKELEY - The Cal field hockey team was ranked No. 16 in the 2012 Penn Monto / NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll. The poll, released today, had Cal earn 209 votes to slip just seven points below Ohio State in the rankings.

The Golden Bears are returning nine starters from last year's squad. The nine include three 2011 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-West team members Andrea Earle, Shannon Elmitt, and Lara Kruggel. Six seniors also will take the pitch in the 2012 season for the Golden Bears.

Last season, California finished at No. 11 in the rankings after winning the NorPac tournament, but falling to Richmond in the NCAA tournament play-in game.

The Golden Bears open the season on Friday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. against No. 1 Maryland. The game will be the first ever California field hockey match to be televised, with coverage beginning on the Pac-12 Network at 5 p.m. To check if you receive Pac-12 Networks, please click here.