HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University field hockey team is ready to defend the program's first South Atlantic Conference Carolinas championship entering the 2021 season.

Following the title, the team has set the bar high, placing emphasis on team dynamics and chemistry.

Coker returns 16 players from last year's conference championship team, including Preseason All-Conference selections Britt Kabo and Rylie Cordrey.

Coker also adds five new faces to the mix this season, who have meshed well with the large group of returners.

Coker opens the season on Sept. 5 at reigning national champion No. 4 Shippensburg, before returning to action on Sept. 7 against conference foe Limestone and welcoming Queens (N.C.) on Sept. 12. Coker then embarks on a three-game road trip making stops at Newberry (Sept. 14), Lincoln Memorial (Sept. 19) and Mount Olive (Sept. 25) before returning home to face Converse (Sept. 26). Coker opens October wrapping up the season series with Queens on the road on Oct. 2, before hosting Mount Olive on Oct. 6 and Newberry on Oct. 10 for Homecoming. The Cobras then hit the road again for three games, traveling to Belmont Abbey (Oct. 16), Limestone (Oct. 19) and Converse (Oct. 23). The Cobras wrap up the regular season Halloween weekend at home, hosting Belmont Abbey on Oct. 30 and Frostburg State on Oct. 31.

The Cobras start their 2021 season on Sunday (Sept. 5) on the road at defending national champion No. 4 Shippensburg. The game is set for a 1:00 p.m. start from Shippensburg, Pa., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.