CLEVELAND, Ohio – The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) released its 2026 preseason coaches' poll for field hockey on Tuesday afternoon. The Ohio Wesleyan University field hockey team was selected to take second in the 11-team conference field.

The reigning NCAC tri-champion Bishops secured 111 total points in rankings as well as three first-place votes. Defending NCAC Tournament champion Denison was selected in the top spot with 115 points and six first-place votes. DePauw was picked third with 98 points and two first-place votes.

The rest of the table was as follows: Wittenberg (80), Kenyon (77), Allegheny (61), Washington & Jefferson (49), newcomers John Carroll (43), Oberlin (43), Wooster (31), and Transylvania (18).

The Red and Black shared the NCAC Championship last season with Denison and DePauw, all finishing with an 8-1 conference record. OWU would finish the season with an 11-6 overall record.

The Battling Bishops open the 2026 season on the road at Lycoming on Tuesday, September 1 at 3:30 p.m.