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UNH Picked Atop America East Field Hockey Preseason Poll
8/6/2025 1:53:00 PM | Field Hockey
Four Wildcats Named Preseason All-Conference
BOSTON – The University of New Hampshire field hockey team, led by UNH Hall of Fame and NFHCA Hall of Fame head coach Robin Balducci, has been picked atop the America East Field Hockey Preseason Poll and four Wildcats were named Preseason All-Conference on Wednesday.
Senior forwards Tasmin Cookman (London, England) and Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) are joined by junior forward Kathelijne Knuttel (Groningen, Netherlands) and sophomore midfielder Faye Meijer (Purmerend, Netherlands) as Preseason All-Conference selections. No other team had more than two honorees.
UNH, which led the conference and ranked sixth nationally in goals per game last season, received four of a possible five first-place votes and 23 points to edge out the University of Vermont, which garnered two first-place votes and 22 points. UAlbany (15 points), UMass Lowell (13), University of Maine (12) and Bryant University (5) complete the poll.
Cookman is a three-time All-American and two-time America East Offensive Player of the Year. She enters the season ranked No. 9 on UNH's career points leaderboard with 88 and is No. 10 in career goals with 37.
Poulakis, who recently scored three goals in her first cap with the Canadian national team, is a two-time All-Region Second Team and two-time All-Conference First Team honoree. She is currently 15th on UNH's all-time leaderboard in both goals (30) and points (77).
Knuttel ranked No. 6 in the nation in goals per game and No. 7 in points per game in 2024, when she recorded 18 goals and five assists for 41 points in 19 games. Those numbers tied for eighth best on UNH's single-season list for both goals and points.
Meijer was the America East Rookie of the Year last season. She led UNH and ranked second in the conference in assists (10). Her other accolades included All-Region Second Team and All-Conference Second Team.
New Hampshire opens the 2025 season Aug. 29 (3 p.m.) against UConn and the Wildcats also play host to Saint Joseph's on opening weekend – Aug. 31 (2 p.m.).
Senior forwards Tasmin Cookman (London, England) and Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) are joined by junior forward Kathelijne Knuttel (Groningen, Netherlands) and sophomore midfielder Faye Meijer (Purmerend, Netherlands) as Preseason All-Conference selections. No other team had more than two honorees.
UNH, which led the conference and ranked sixth nationally in goals per game last season, received four of a possible five first-place votes and 23 points to edge out the University of Vermont, which garnered two first-place votes and 22 points. UAlbany (15 points), UMass Lowell (13), University of Maine (12) and Bryant University (5) complete the poll.
Cookman is a three-time All-American and two-time America East Offensive Player of the Year. She enters the season ranked No. 9 on UNH's career points leaderboard with 88 and is No. 10 in career goals with 37.
Poulakis, who recently scored three goals in her first cap with the Canadian national team, is a two-time All-Region Second Team and two-time All-Conference First Team honoree. She is currently 15th on UNH's all-time leaderboard in both goals (30) and points (77).
Knuttel ranked No. 6 in the nation in goals per game and No. 7 in points per game in 2024, when she recorded 18 goals and five assists for 41 points in 19 games. Those numbers tied for eighth best on UNH's single-season list for both goals and points.
Meijer was the America East Rookie of the Year last season. She led UNH and ranked second in the conference in assists (10). Her other accolades included All-Region Second Team and All-Conference Second Team.
New Hampshire opens the 2025 season Aug. 29 (3 p.m.) against UConn and the Wildcats also play host to Saint Joseph's on opening weekend – Aug. 31 (2 p.m.).
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