CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton field hockey program has been selected to finish first in the Fall 2025 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was announced on Tuesday. The poll is voted on by the head coaches of each of the LEC's seven field hockey teams.

Castleton received 34 points with four first-place votes, narrowly edging out Keene State who had 33 points and three first-place votes.

Last season, the Spartans went 16-5 and claimed the 2024 LEC regular season title after going undefeated in league play. They went on to meet with the Owls in the LEC title match, where KSC secured the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament with a 3-2 victory under the lights at Dave Wolk Stadium.

University of Southern Maine was picked to finish third in the preseason poll, clearing fourth-place Plymouth State University by a single point. The complete 2025 LEC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll is as follows. 
 
Institution - Points (First Place Votes)
1. VTSU Castleton- 34 (4)
2. Keene State - 33 (3)
3. Southern Maine - 22
4. Plymouth State - 21
5. Western Connecticut - 16
6. Eastern Connecticut - 13
7. UMass Dartmouth - 8