National Field Hockey League's 2021 Fall Championship & Challenge Cup Get Underway Tomorrow
by USA Field Hockey
The National Field Hockey League's (NFHL) 2021 Fall Championship will be taking place at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center and Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, Va. between Friday, November 19 and Sunday, November 21, 2021. This tournament highlights the top 16 collegiate club field hockey teams in the nation.
Every year, the top 16 teams compete in bracket-style play, in hopes of winning the Fall Championship. There are approximately 100 collegiate club field hockey teams within the NFHL that span across the country. After the completion of the regular fall season, the teams are ranked. The top 16 full-member teams who meet all game eligibility requirements are invited to compete at the Fall Championship. The NFHL is a co-ed collegiate club league and allows for both male and female players to participate in the competition. Hundreds of players, family and friends make the trip to Virginia Beach to watch the three-day tournament take place. On Sunday, the Fall Championship Final game will be played - this year the game will be live streamed. A complete schedule can be found here and results will be posted live.
Our 2021 Fall Championship teams include (ranked by their Fall 2021 standings):
- Northeastern University
- University of Delaware
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- University of Michigan
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- University of Maryland
- Penn State University
- Virginia Tech
- University of Pennsylvania
- Providence College
- Temple University
- University of Virginia
- West Chester University
- George Washington University
- University of Georgia
- Saint Joseph's University
On the same weekend, 10 NFHL teams will be competing in the 2021 Fall Challenge Cup. The 2021 NFHL Fall Challenge Cup is in memory of NFHL alumna Allie Zambito (#27) who played on the High Point University club field hockey team. Allie was an NFHL all-star and was on the team both her freshman and senior years when High Point University qualified for the NFHL Fall Championship. A team of High Point University alumni will be competing in Allie’s memory (Allie’s Army). The Fall Challenge Cup is open to both Honorary and Full members, and alumni are allowed to participate. Live results will be posted online. The teams competing in this tournament include:
- College of William & Mary
- Drexel University
- High Point University
- High Point University - Allie's Army
- James Madison University
- Liberty University
- Towson University
- University of New Haven
- University of Pittsburgh
- Wake Forest University
The mission of the National Field Hockey League is to promote and grow the sport of field hockey by providing a member-centered governing structure for club teams, improving access to competitive play, facilitating educational trainings and building community. The NFHL was developed to provide college students an opportunity to play field hockey at a club level (non-NCAA path). The teams are often completely coached and led by students. The National Field Hockey League also provides teams the ability to play a spring season. While there is not a championship-style tournament like in the fall, there is an open-play spring tournament that also happens in Virginia Beach. For more information, contact info@nationalfieldhockeyleague.com.
