IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa field hockey team opens the 2023 season ranked seventh in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll, it was announced Tuesday by the association.

The Hawkeyes ended the 2022 season ranked 11th after advancing to their 21st Elite Eight in program history. The team has been ranked in 72 consecutive polls dating back to the 2016 season.

Iowa return seven starters and a total of 14 letterwinners from the 2022 team that finished 12-8 overall. The returnees include NFHCA All-West Region and All-America selection Esme Gibson.

The Hawkeyes open the 2023 season Friday, against No. 12 Wake Forest at 5 p.m. (CT) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the B1G/ACC Challenge. The game will be broadcast on the ACCN. Iowa will face No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday at noon – that game will be streamed on ACCNX.