The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released their 2021 Field Hockey Preseason Poll on Monday afternoon. Roanoke College was tabbed fourth by the league's nine coaches.

Last season, the Maroons finished third in the regular season and came within 10 minutes of winning their semifinal matchup in the ODAC Tournament, falling to Washington and Lee, 2-1. Roanoke returns 20 players, including a trio of All ODAC selections heading into the fall 2021 campaign. Emilee Wooten, the school's all-time leader in total points and assists, enters the season needing just three goals to tie and four scores to become the Maroon's all-time leader in goals scored. Wooten was joined on the 2020 All ODAC teams by forward Martha Hurley and defender Alexis Wright, giving Roanoke leadership and experience at every level on the field. Junior goalkeeper Hannah Roerden returns after a season that saw her post six wins and three shutouts. Roerden's goals against average (GAA) of 1.36 was third in the conference. 

The Maroons kick off the season with the first of three consecutive home games when Roanoke plays host to Mary Washington on September 1st. The first six games of the season will feature non-conference matchups with Christopher Newport, Southern Virginia, Wilson, Sewanee, and Rhodes before ODAC play gets started. The Maroons will waste little time in conference action as they play host to 2020 Champion Lynchburg on September 29th. The rematch with the Generals is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 5th in Lexington as Roanoke starts conference play with games against the preseason #1 and #2 teams. The final home game is scheduled for Saturday, October 23rd against Virginia Wesleyan and the regular season finale will be a road game with Randolph-Macon on October 30th.