SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University field hockey team has achieved its highest national ranking in program history as the Crusaders are seventh in this week’s STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll, through games of October 20.

The Crusaders, who were 12-1 entering Tuesday’s Commonwealth Conference home match against Elizabethtown, have won a school-record 12 consecutive games since a season-opening 2-1 loss at 11th-ranked McDaniel on August 31.

Susquehanna’s previous highest ranking in Division III came on September 21, 1999 when the Crusaders were ranked eighth in the NFHCA poll. That year, the Crusaders finished with a program-record 15 victories and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Rowan (14-0) received all 34 first-place votes to maintain their hold on number one, while The College of New Jersey (10-1), Salisbury (12-2), SUNY Cortland (11-2) and Commonwealth Conference rival Messiah (9-3) round out the top five.

In addition to Messiah and Susquehanna, two other Commonwealth Conference schools are in this week’s poll as Lebanon Valley (10-4) dropped from 8th to 12th after a 3-2 double-overtime loss at Susquehanna last Tuesday and Elizabethtown (9-2) climbed one spot to 16th.

Following Tuesday's match with Elizabethtown, Susquehanna will host Juniata on Thursday at 4 p.m.