College Games to Watch: Division II Opening Weekend
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by Caroline Pease, USA Field Hockey's College Content Intern
Kicking off Division II opening weekend are four matches that feature showdowns between the Northeast 10 (NE10) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) on Thursday. The weekend will continue will several top-ten match-ups, rounded out with 12 games on Sunday to get your Division II field hockey fix. Find the full Division II field hockey schedule here.
Thursday, September 4
No. 1 Kutztown vs No. 8 So. New Hampshire | 2:00 PM ET | Watch
In a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal, No. 8 So. New Hampshire will travel to Pennsylvania to take on top-ranked Kutztown. The duo sparred twice last season, with Kutztown taking both contests—a 5-2 win in the regular season and a 2-1 overtime victory in the postseason to advance to the NCAA Semifinal.
So. New Hampshire looks to flip the script this time. The Penmen roster welcomes back international talents like Minke van de Poll, Jade Hendriks, and Amelia Crocombe, in addition to in-state standouts Zoe Demers and Natalie Paradzick. It may be a challenge, however, for So. New Hampshire, who came out ranked fifth in the recent NE10 Preseason Poll, an attest to their loss of All-American athletes like NCAA Division II East Region Player of the Year Annemartine Christis.
With returners like seniors Erin Gonzalez and Grace Harrold, and three incoming Division I transfers, Kutztown may be primed to hold an advantage in this match-up. The Golden Bears captured the first place ranking in both the NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll and PSAC Preseason Poll.
Friday, September 5
No. 5 Assumption vs No. 7 West Chester | 6 PM ET | Watch ($)
Another pair of ranked teams will face off this weekend when No. 4 Assumption hosts No. 7 West Chester in Worcester, Mass.
2024 NE10 champion Assumption comes into 2025 ranked second in the NE10 Preseason Poll and fourth nationally. The Greyhounds have a strong returning core of seven starters, who assisted the team to a perfect 13-0 regular season conference record. Among these starters are four NFCHA Watchlist selections, Julia Carbone, Paige Gillette, Jillian McSorley and Elle Murray.
West Chester has been rearing to get back into the top tier of Division II, last claiming the title in 2019. The Golden Rams finished out the 2024 season 12-7 overall, with narrow losses to stronger PSAC threats like Kutztown and East Stroudsburg. Despite an early exit in last year’s conference tournament, West Chester returns key players like Ella Shockely and Gianna Funari.
Saturday, September 6
No. 2 Saint Anselm vs No. 3 East Stroudsburg | 1 PM ET | Watch ($)
Reigning national champion Saint Anselm will defend its home turf this Friday against No. 3 East Stroudsburg.
Saint Anselm will look very different this season, after graduating nine starters, but are eager to maintain their recently achieved hockey presence. Senior Millie Forster is the team’s lone NFCHA Watchlist selection, but the Hawks will welcome a seven-strong freshmen class.
East Stroudsburg is no stranger to Division II success, last winning the NCAA title in 2022 and claiming the second spot behind Kutztown in this year's PSAC Preseason Poll. The Warriors return offensive talent like Kerry Kaufman and leading goal scorer Minke Klijn, in addition to defensive assets Charlotte Simon and Bella Viruet.
The Hawks blanked the Warriors, 3-0, in last year's NCAA Tournament Semifinal for a trip to the title game. East Stroudsburg holds a slight advantage in overall record against St. Anselm, besting them in three out of their five meetings.
Frostburg State vs No. 10 Newberry | 12 PM ET | Watch ($)
No. 10 Newberry will open their season against Frostburg State at home on Setzler Field this Saturday.
Newberry picked up the last spot in the NFCHA Coaches Poll—their fourth consecutive season reaching the national rankings—after going 15-4 in 2024. In addition, they were the top pick in the the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Preseason Poll. The Wolves posted four to the NFHCA Division II Watchlist, including last year's leading scorer Emma Westbrook.
Now in their second year as part of the PSAC, Frostburg State will have another competitive schedule. The Bobcats finished 6-11 overall last season but saw bright lights with a 3-2 win over Millersville and 2-1 overtime loss to then-No. 3 East Stroudsburg. The squad boasts senior forward Paige Leitzel on the NFHCA Division II watchlist, who enters her final campaign as the team’s leading offensive threat.
Sunday, September 7
No. 3 East Stroudsburg vs No. 5 Assumption | 1 PM ET | Watch ($)
The PSAC vs NE10 fun continues on Sunday with a match-up between No. 3 East Stroudsburg and No. 5 Assumption.
No. 8 So. New Hampshire vs No. 2 Saint Anselm | 1 PM ET | Watch ($)
It's an early season non-conference meeting between conference foes, as No. 2 Saint Anselm hosts No. 8 So. New Hampshire on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
