Marian University Athletics Announces Addition of Field Hockey as 26th Intercollegiate Sport

"The addition of Marian to the field hockey community is very welcome. This sport continues to expand throughout the country, and the growth in the region has been a focus for some time. Field hockey has a strong presence in the area with high schools and clubs. We already have welcomed players from Wisconsin into the national team pipeline, and it is a natural fit to see the growth at the collegiate level as well. I'm thrilled to see the discussion come to fruition, and look forward to future opportunities for players, coaches, umpires and fans in the midwest as the Sabres launch their program." - Chip Rogers, USA Field Hockey's Grow the Game Committee Chair

Content Courtesy of Marian Athletics

FOND DU LAC, Wisc. - Marian University President Michelle Majewski and Director of Athletics Jason Bartelt have announced the addition of field hockey to become the 26th intercollegiate sport at Marian University.

Sabre athletics becomes the 169th NCAA Division III to boast a field hockey program and just the second institution in the state of Wisconsin to sponsor the sport. Marian has also applied to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), and if accepted, would join Rhodes, Concordia Wisconsin, Centre, Sewanee and Transylvania in the conference. The NCAA has recognized field hockey as a collegiate sport since 1981.

Field hockey is played with dimensions similar to soccer with a halfway line, 25-yard line, and shooting circle. Matches consist of four quarters with each quarter lasting 15 minutes, while overtime rules are similar to soccer where there are two 10-minute periods with sudden victory rules applied. A shootout follows any match that still remains in a tie following overtime. Each team is allowed 11 student-athletes on the field at one time with one typically being a goalkeeper. Throughout the game, each team is attempting to score into a goal that stands seven feet high by 12 feet wide. To learn more about field hockey please visit the NCAA website.

"The addition of women's field hockey to our current array of athletic offerings at Marian University is exciting," said Majewski. "This will provide students the opportunity to participate in a sport with a history of over 100 years in the making."

Marian University athletics continues to show growth and expansion as field hockey becomes the ninth program to be added to the intercollegiate lineup since 2014. Sabre athletics has announced the addition of at least one sport to their intercollegiate lineup every year since the addition of men's volleyball in 2014.

"I'm excited to announce that Marian University is adding field hockey as our 26th sport to our growing athletic department," said Bartelt. "The continued success and growth of each new sport in the past few years is a testament to the dedication and work of our student-athletes, coaches and trainers. I have no doubt that field hockey will be any different.  The facilities here at Marian are some of the best within our conferences, especially Smith Field with the turf that enables our student-athletes to play year-round."

A national search for the first head coach of the program is currently being conducted. Marian plans to have their inaugural field hockey season begin in the fall of 2022 with a typical field hockey season consisting of 15-20 games.