The Northeastern field hockey team’s spectacular 4-0 start has launched the squad into the Top 20 of the Kookaburra/NFHCA National Coaches Poll, released earlier this week.

The Huskies are slotted at No. 18 after receiving 129 points. The achievement comes nearly five years to the day since the last time the Huskies were ranked in the Top 20. On Sept. 5, 2006, Northeastern also came in at No. 18 in the national poll.

Two shutouts, including a 5-0 win over then-No. 13 Michigan State, propelled the Huskies into the national spotlight.

This is the first time Northeastern has started a season 4-0 since 2004. That year, head coach Cheryl Murtagh led her squad to a 6-0 start en route to finishing the season with an 18-4 record and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

So far this season, two juniors have led the way for the Huskies. Forward Crystal Poland has notched two hat tricks in the last three games and leads Northeastern with nine goals in four games. Defensively, goalkeeper Lizzie Priest has been fantastic in the cage. She has earned two shutouts and made 30 saves thus far.

Northeastern will have two tough games on the West Coast this weekend, as the Huskies take on California tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST before facing No. 16 Stanford on Sunday at 4 p.m. EST.

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