With field hockey season’s opening games just days away, fans should be aware of the players that look to return and dominate the field for another year. While having a leader in a statistic on a team doesn’t mean a guaranteed spot topping the rankings, it does help. These five women lead the NCAA statistics as returners in preparation for the 2016 season.

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Charlotte Veitner | Connecticut

Points Per Game: 4.30, Goals Per Game: 1.70, Assists Per Game: .91

The junior forward from Germany started in each of the Huskies’ 23 games and broke the school’s single-season record in points and goals last year. Veitner’s best games were against Yale and Georgetown as the All-American scored four in each. As for her best games for points, she was able to make an assist at Georgetown for a five-point total and matched it at Temple with three goals and two assists. However, it was at Providence that she made four assists to help her assists average. Overall, Veitner looks to be a serious offensive threat and could be a force to help Connecticut rise up in the rankings.

Charlotte Veitner is the @UConnFHockey season record holder in points & now the #BIGEASTfh Preseason Offensive POY pic.twitter.com/4Z3pTRHYCJ — BIG EAST Conference (@BIGEAST) August 19, 2016

Nina Klein | Connecticut

Goals Against Average: .62, Goalie Win-Loss Percentage: .957

UConn looks to have a fairly stacked team this year with both Veitner and this redshirt junior goalkeeper. Named a captain for the 2016 season, Klein started in all 23 games last year as well as the year before and only allowed 39 goals between the two years. Her best game last year was against Northwestern, where she made eight saves. With Klein in the goal, UConn seems to be poised to have a great season ahead of them.

Congrats to our 2016 team captains! Anna Middendorf, Nina Klein and Olivia Bolles #UConnNation #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/yFHR1h0VO8 — UConn Field Hockey (@UConnFHockey) August 15, 2016

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Angie King | Quinnipiac

Defensive Saves: 13

Coming into her senior year, this midfielder raised the bar for field hockey players across the nation, leading the board in defensive saves by a margin of four in 2015. Her best game was against Maine where she posted three defensive saves. With Quinnipiac coming off a rough season, King looks poised to help her team better its record in 2016.

Just some Bobcats getting ready for BIG EAST Field Hockey...#BobcatNation pic.twitter.com/AyuCmiDvhW — QU Field Hockey (@QU_FH) July 28, 2016

Maria Krull | Colgate

Saves Per Game: 11.50

Named Colgate’s defensive player of the year, this junior goalkeeper continues to impress fans across the country. She posted double-digit saves in more than 10 games and has tallied 185 saves for her career. Her best games last year were against Lock Haven with 19 saves and at Harvard with 17 saves. And, while Colgate didn’t finish well in 2015, Krull looks to lead her team to post a few victories in this coming season.

Goalkeeper Maria Krull named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team #gogate https://t.co/VVtJ6p8Yfy pic.twitter.com/FVePlDQhUI — Colgate Field Hockey (@ColgateFH) August 23, 2016

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Sam Swenson | Michigan

Save Percentage: .837

As the first All-American goalkeeper for Michigan, this junior has posted 150 saves during her career so far, tallying 87 for the 22 starts in the cage in 2015. Her best game was at Northwestern with 14 saves, leading her team to a win in double overtime. Now, only halfway through her college career, she potentially could bring Michigan to finish within the top five.