BETHLEHEM, Pa. –– Agustina Roffo returns to the turf this season for the Eagles as the Patriot League's Preseason Midfielder of the Year. Junior midfielder Emilia Winkler joins Roffo on the Preseason All-League Team, and the American University field hockey team has been tabbed to finish second in the preseason poll.
 
This is the first time since 2019 that the Eagles have not been picked to top the league in the preseason poll; the league coaches and sports information directors have predicted American to finish second, with 28 total points. The last time AU was picked to finish second, they went 6-0 in Patriot League play on their way to becoming Patriot League Champions and earning a spot in the NCAA Play-In Game.
 
Lafayette, the reigning Patriot League champions, earned six first place votes and 36 points to top the poll in the number one spot. Bucknell, with one first place vote and 26 points, follows AU closely in the third place spot. The Bison are trailed by Boston University (24) in fourth. A tie between Lehigh and Holy Cross, each with 13, precedes Colgate (7) to round out the preseason poll.
 
This is Roffo's second preseason honor after earning a spot on the preseason All-League team in 2024. The midfielder, now a graduate student after finishing her undergraduate degree in three years, will seek to improve on a successful year prior. The Argentinian started and played in every contest in 2024. She led the Eagles and finished the 2024 season sixth in the league with eight goals for 20 points, including a remarkable four game-winners. She earned many accolades for her performance, claiming Second Team NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region, First Team All-Patriot League, Patriot League All-Academic, and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll commendations.
 
Junior midfielder Winkler started 19 of the 20 games she played in during the 2024 season and finished with seven points from five assists and a goal. Essential to the midfield mentality and morale, and to the Eagles maintaining possession in the middle third of the field, Winkler–a key component of AU penalty corners–also recorded 13 shots on goal and earned a shots on goal percentage of .542 last season. This is her first time earning preseason honors.
 
The 2025 season home opener will be on Sunday, August 31 and will see the Eagles squaring off with NCAA tournament quarterfinalists, Duke. The Blue Devils and the Eagles have met three times before, all games coming during the NCAA tournament. Prior to this, the Eagles will start regular season play by squaring off with William & Mary on Friday, August 29 on the road in Williamsburg, Virginia at 5 pm.
 
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2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Lafayette (6 first-place votes), 36 points
2. American, 28
3. Bucknell (1), 26
4. Boston University, 24
5. Lehigh, 13
6. Holy Cross, 13
7. Colgate, 7
 
2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards Winners
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Jr., F
Preseason Midfielder of the Year – Agustina Roffo, American, Gr., M
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Raffi Fragomeni, Lafayette, Sr., GK
 
2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team*
Agustina Roffo, American, Gr., M
Emilia Winkler, American, Jr., M
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Sr., M
Nicky Lauro, Boston University, Jr., M
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Sr., D
Nicky Punt, Bucknell, Sr., M
Gianna Puorro, Bucknell, Sr., M
Maguire Sturgis, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Raffi Fragomeni, Lafayette, Sr., GK
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Jr., F
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, Sr., D
Josephine van Wijk, Lafayette, Sr., M
Kiki Mes, Lehigh, Sr., M
 
*Additional student-athlete selected to the preseason team due to ties in the voting