The 2024 Women’s Field Hockey season has been crazy. It’s been full of twists and turns with upsets and disappointments around every corner. As the season comes to a close, the playoff picture is anything but set in stone. Here are the Last Take picks and predictions for this year’s Women’s Field Hockey Postseason.
Champion Pick:
Carter: I think this year #19 Iowa has a good chance to come from behind and win it all. They’re sitting at 9-7 right now, but don’t let that deceive you. They’re coming off a big win against #3 Ohio State and are now ranked #19. The Hawkeyes have found their groove and if you watch the film you’ll see they’re dominating. The only thing standing in this team’s way of winning it all is Michigan. They beat Michigan in the last game of the season and are in the playoffs and have a very high chance to take home some hardware.
Mercer: Are you fudging kidding me? Iowa-IOWA. There is no way in God’s good name that IOWA is winning this thing. Yes—they just won big against Ohio State however that was against an overrated team in the first place. They are hot I’ll give you that, but they will be lucky to even make the playoffs. I am going with the far superior #2 Northwestern. This team has been consistent all season and has a deep lineup. I mean they have Ashley Sessa, ASHLEY SESSA scoring about a goal a game. How do you compete with that?
Carter: I think that this late-season momentum is huge. They beat #3 Ohio State 3-0 and have a good chance against the Wolverines. I think the key to winning out this season is for Dionne van Aalsum to raise her shooting percentage. Right now she’s the team’s leading goal scorer, but she also has the lowest qualified shooting percentage. Increase that and you’re beating Ohio State 5-0. I think Iowa’s coaching staff is up to the task and this team is gritty and determined for a chip.
Overrated Pick:
Mercer: I think we both can agree that #1 UNC is not it. The team has not lost a game, which is cool and all, but I just don’t believe this self-proclaimed “field hockey” team can win it all. They have been playing strong and are a good team, but not great. They do not have any game-changers on their lineup and, you know what, I’m going to say it- they lack athletic ability. They have a static offense that outlasts their opponents, and I do not how well that will translate when the stakes get higher. Let me tell you this, they WILL NOT make it back to the championship game again!
Carter: I agree but I think #8 St. Joseph’s is far more overrated. You’re telling me a 14-3 Atlantic 10 team is better than 12-4 #9 Syracuse which is playing an ACC schedule? St. Joseph has had a cupcake schedule. They’ve played teams like #57 Davidson, #63 Lock Haven, and #80 St. Louis. They’ve only played two big teams, #3 Virginia and #11 Harvard. Although they won both, this doesn’t show much as they still lost to #15 UMASS. Their season closer coming up is against La Salle, which should be an easy win. With this kind of schedule, if this school were real contenders they would be 17-0! Don’t be surprised when this team is a first-round exit.
Mercer: I couldn’t agree more. They have had a Mickey Mouse schedule and I just don’t believe they will produce when it comes to this postseason. Name me an Atlantic 10 team other than St. Joseph’s that is good! Are you going to quote #15 UMASS who they lost 1-2 in overtime to? Come on, this team is not good and should be out of the top 25 if it was up to me.
Dark Horse Pick
Mercer: Ok here me out, #18 Penn State is a sleeper pick. They struggled early on but they have been killing it recently! This team knows how to win big and I am positive when the time comes they will show up. Penn State thrives and quick transition situations so I wouldn’t be surprised if one minute they are down by a lot and the next they are up by four.
Carter: I could see that happening, but I think #17 University of Albany is slept on way more. They’ve snuck into the Top 25 while still being in the surprisingly difficult American East Conference. In their last two games against Maine and Colgate, they’ve outscored their opponents 10-1 and have a favorable season-ender against Vermont. UAlbany’s Belgian-born Senior Alison Smisdom has shown what she’s capable of shooting .279 and having 19 goals and 6 assists on the season. I think the one-two punch of Smisdom and Dutch-born Floor de Ruiter will let this team make a deep playoff push. Sadly, I don’t think this team has enough lower-classman depth to continue this dark horse status into next season. Stop sleeping on the UAlbany Danes.
Mercer: Ok come on! I can smell that load of sh** from here. First off, they are in the American East which is pretty much a fake conference. Maine and Colgate are unranked so who cares if they are outscoring them? Let’s just be honest here, UAlbany is lucky to be ranked in the top 20! This team is good in a bad conference. If they were in the Big 10 or ACC they wouldn’t stand a chance, that is just how it is.
Carter: I think you’re downplaying the strength of the American East Conference. This conference has the best argument right now to become a Power Conference. They have 7 teams in the Top 70, which is very impressive in the dynamic landscape of the sport. UAlbany has the stuff to make a playoff push happen and I think this team is more than capable of taking advantage of that.
