Marlborough, MASS.- Babson College has been selected to win its fifth-straight NEWMAC title in the 2025 NEWMAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll, collecting eight first-place votes. Babson, led by head coach Julie Ryan, returns 20 players from a team that captured its ninth straight NEWMAC regular season title and fourth consecutive conference tournament championship last season. All-region and all-conference first team forward Caroline DiGiovani will return after leading the team in scoring with 19 goals and four assists for 42 points. NEWMAC Co-Rookie of the Year Penny Baroni is also among the three starters back from a team that went 19-4 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024.
 
Landing in the second slot is MIT, which claimed the remaining two first-place votes. The Engineers, coached by Sarah Shute, return 15 players from last season's squad. Among the returners are All-Americans Bailey McIntyre and Ingrid Tomovski. Tomovski led MIT with 15 goals and nine assists, while McIntyre tied for fourth in the NEWMAC in assists (eight) and generated six goals for 20 points. The NEWMAC Co-Rookie of the Year, Drew Hussar, will also return for the Engineers.
 
The third spot goes to WPI, who will be led by head coach Kim Cosenza. Among the WPI returners is Eve Martineau, who was a first-team All-NEWMAC selection last season. The midfielder had five goals and a pair of assists for the Engineers, who went 7-2 in league play in 2024.
 
Wellesley claims the fourth spot in the poll. Head Coach Callie Lekas returns for the sixth season and has never missed the NEWMAC playoffs. The Blue return six starters, including Claudia Summers, who tallied nine goals last season, and goalies Hannah Simmonds and Maddie Miller, who combined for 90 saves in 2024.
 
Salve Regina enters the poll ranked fifth. The Seahawks will be led by head coach Jen Foster and return their top goal scorer from a season ago in Julia Decker, who scored 17 goals, good for second in the league, en route to a first-team All-Conference nod. Fellow all-conference honoree Georgia Costello will also return after chipping in 10 goals a season ago.
 
Smith College and Springfield College landed in a tie for sixth place. Smith is led by veteran head coach Jaime Ginsberg and will return All-NEWMAC performer Callahan Day, who notched seven goals and an assist in 2024.
 
Springfield is led by head coach Mia Olsen, and will return Nicolette Morlock, a 2024 NEWMAC second-team All-Conference selection. A defender, Morlock guided the Pride to six shutouts, while also chipping in five goals and four assists.
 
Wheaton, coached by Brooke Marshall, grabs the eighth spot. The Lyons return several starters, headlined by All-NEWMAC defender Abby Miller.  
 
Clark University sits in the ninth spot, coached by Laura-Ann Lane. The scarlet and white bring back 10 players from last year's team and welcome six newcomers to the squad. Senior Jenna Beauchain returns to the Cougars after scoring five goals and dishing out a pair of assists.
 
Mount Holyoke College rounds out the selections. The Lyons, led by Andy Whitcomb, will see several starters return to help them vie for a title in 2025. 
 
NEWMAC field hockey conference play will start on Saturday, September 20.
 
The NEWMAC Field Hockey Championship will begin with quarterfinal games on November 4, followed by semifinal matchups on November 6. The NEWMAC Field Hockey champion will be crowned on November 8.
 
2025 NEWMAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
    
1. Babson
2. MIT
3. WPI 
4. Wellesley
5. Salve Regina
T6. Smith 
T6. Springfield 
8. Wheaton
9. Clark 
10. Mount Holyoke 

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.