Three Earn Preseason All-CAA Honors; W&M Field Hockey Projected Second in Preseason Poll

RICHMOND — The defending CAA Champion William & Mary field hockey program was picked second in the preseason league poll on Monday, and three Tribe student-athletes were honored on the preseason All-CAA team.

Graduate student goalkeeper Maddie George and senior midfielder Pyper Friedman were both named to the 13-player preseason All-CAA team, while sophomore Josie Mae Gruendel was one of seven players named to the honorable mention list.

As a team, the Tribe was picked second in the preseason poll by vote of the league coaches along with Drexel. Both teams received 28 points and two first-place votes. Monmouth, which won the regular season in 2023, was the CAA preseason favorite with 32 points and three first-place votes. No. 4 Northeastern (22), No. 5 Delaware (20), No. 6 Hofstra (10), and No. 7 Towson (7) round out the CAA preseason poll.

Last season, the Tribe won the program’s second CAA title, behind a 3-2 double overtime win over Monmouth in the championship. W&M finished the season at 12-9 in 2023, including an NCAA Opening Round victory over MAAC Champion Sacred Heart. The Tribe has qualified for the CAA Tourney in nine of head coach Tess Ellis‘s 11 seasons and is 40-24 (.625) in CAA play over that stretch.

George enters her fifth season at W&M as one of the program’s top all-time goalkeepers. She is seventh in Tribe history in shutouts (9), ninth in wins (23), 11th in saves (210), 16th in Save % (.712) and 17th in goals against average (1.87). George, who was named to the CAA All-Tournament Team last season, capped 2023 with a career-high and program NCAA Tournament record 16 saves against eventual national champion North Carolina.

Friedman was named a Third Team All-American last season after posting 24 points and eight goals and eight assists. She was also named to the All-CAA and NFHCA All-South Region First Teams. She came up big during the Tribe’s post season run behind three goals and three assists over the four matches.

During her rookie campaign, Gruendel started 15 of 21 matches, including all four during the postseason. She scored her first career goal on the road at Drexel and earned CAA All-Rookie Team honors. Over the summer, Gruendel joined George and Friedman in competing at the Senior Nexus Championship.

The Tribe opens the season at No. 3 Duke on Friday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. The Green and Gold kicks off the home slate on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 1 p.m. against in-state rival Richmond.

2024 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Poll

2024 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Sofia Fouces, Monmouth

2024 Preseason All-CAA Field Hockey Team

Honorable Mention: Liz Chipman, M, Drexel; Jessie Eiselin, GK, Monmouth; Josie Mae Gruendel, F, William & Mary; Sarah Hatfield, F, Towson; Anna Moors, D, Monmouth; Noelle Sabbagh, F, Delaware; Rachael Whitehead, M, Delaware