College Games: NCAA Division I & III Opening, First, Second & Third Rounds

College field hockey for Division I and III have now entered NCAA Tournament play. Division II finished their regular season on November 12 and will start conference tournaments on November 15.

Division I: Opening, First & Second Rounds

 

Opening Round: Wednesday, November 9

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Delaware 4 - 0 Lehigh | 2:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+($)

A dormant rivalry is revived on Wednesday. For the first time since 1999, Delaware (9-11) will play Lehigh (13-7) in what will be the Mountain Hawks’ first-ever NCAA postseason appearance. The winner of this contest will go on to play, host No. 1 North Carolina.

Despite a sub-.500 overall record, the Blue Hens put on a dominant showing in the Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) Tournament, winning for the fourth year in a row. Delaware won both their semifinal against Northeastern and final against Drexel by identical 6-1 scorelines. Senior Ashlyn Carr was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player with two goals and four assists over the two games, while the Blue Hens’ leading scorer Julia Duffhuis had the reverse of four goals and two assists. 

After falling to American earlier in the season, 3-1, Lehigh came up big when needed in the Patriot League Semifinals against the Eagles. The match was tied up at 1-1 after regulation and through overtime. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Khan – tournament MVP – kept her team in it through 80 minutes of play with eight saves, then denied seven shootout attempts. Junior Julia Gatelein had the winning shootout goal to give Lehigh their first ever win over American. The Mountain Hawks went on to defeat Boston University, 2-1, in overtime to claim just their second Patriot League Title in program history.

The Blue Hens and Mountain Hawks used to see each other quite often. From 1983 to 1999, Delaware tallied 15 wins in their meetings compared to Lehigh’s seven.

Evanston, Ill.

Miami 7 - 1 Rider | 3:00 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

Northeast Conference (NEC) champions Rider (15-5) will take on Mid-American Conference (MAC) winner Miami (13-7) for the first time in the NCAA postseason and just the second meeting all-time. 

Rider defeated Fairfield in overtime, 2-1, to claim their eighth NEC Championship. The two most recent NCAA postseason appearances by the Broncs were in 2020 and 2012, when they lost in the first round both times to Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. Rider enters the tournament on an 11-game winning streak, in which they have outscored opponents by a 37-7 margin. 

No stranger to the crown, Miami won their fifth consecutive MAC Title with their 3-1 victory over Appalachian State. The RedHawks have had some narrow defeats against ranked teams again this season, including fellow NCAA Tournament teams in Michigan and Virginia. Last year, the RedHawks’ postseason run was cut short when Michigan scored in the final two seconds of regulation to earn the first round victory. 

These are two strong defensive lines, which feature solid goalkeepers. In terms of save percentage, Miami’s Isabelle Perese ranks third nationally (0.813) while Rider’s Kaitlyn Tomas is close behind at fourth (0.800).

Rider and Miami clashed for the first time recently in an early season non-conference match last year. The RedHawks pulled out a 3-1 victory over the Broncs.

First Round: Friday, November 11

Chapel Hill, N.C.

No. 1 North Carolina 5 - 1 Delaware | 12:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+($)

After winning their opening round match, Delaware (10-11) will travel to face No. 1 North Carolina (17-0) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. 

Delaware cruised past Lehigh, 4-0, in the opening round of postseason play on Wednesday. Four different Blue Hens scored in their first NCAA Tournament shutout since 2016. Leading scorer Julia Duffhuis tallied the first goal in the match.

There is little more to say about North Carolina than to reiterate the dominance of the team and their potent offensive line. Erin Matson is first nationally in points per game (3.06), broke the ACC All-Time scoring record, and was named NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week three times this season (to bring her total to 12 over her tenure with UNC). The Tar Heels won their sixth consecutive ACC Championship with a 3-2 victory over Virginia. Even after an early exit in last year’s tournament, UNC has been the premier program in college field hockey and will aim to reassert themselves in this year’s bracket as the top seed.

The last time the two teams met was in 2016, when Delaware defeated North Carolina 3-2 to win their first and only NCAA Division I Title. In overall meetings, the Blue Hens have a 2-6 record.

Saint Joseph's 3 - 1 Wake Forest | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+($)

Atlantic 10 (A-10) champion Saint Joseph’s will face off against Wake Forest, who earned an at-large bid out of the ACC.

Saint Joseph’s swept through the A-10, going a perfect 7-0 in the regular season before beating Virginia Commonwealth and Massachusetts to claim the conference crown for the second year in a row. The Hawks supplemented their conference slate with a difficult non-conference schedule, but beat ranked foes in Harvard, Boston College and Rutgers. Should Saint Joseph’s advance, they’d get a rematch against either North Carolina - who beat them 6-0 - or Delaware, who the Hawks beat 6-0.

Wake Forest posted one of their most impressive seasons since winning three straight titles in the early 2000s. Led by Co-ACC Coach of the Year Jennifer Averill (her eighth time winning), the Demon Deacons earned the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament. They fell in the semifinals in overtime to Virginia, but enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams having won 15 of their last 17.

Despite both teams have plenty of success over the years, this will be just the second meeting between the two. Wake Forest came away with the win in the first time back in 1998 - the year before the Demon Deacons went on a 12-year run of NCAA Tournament appearances and won their three championships.

Evanston, Ill.

No. 2 Northwestern 1 - 1 Miami (SO 3 - 2) | 1:00 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

Following a comfortable 7-1 win over Rider in the opening round, Miami will face a bigger test: No. 2 seed Northwestern,  reigning national champions and Big Ten (B1G) runners-up.

The RedHawks set a program record for goals and winning margin in a NCAA Tournament game against Rider with Claudia Negrete Garcia compiling a hat trick. Negrete Garcia was a Mid-American Conference (MAC) First Team selection alongside Luli Rosso, who had a goal and an assist in the victory. Miami hung tough against B1G opponents in the regular season, going 2-3 with wins over Ohio State and Michigan State, but lost to the Wildcats.

Northwestern enters the first round just a few days removed from a slim 2-1 loss to Michigan in the B1G Title game. The Wildcats had beaten Rutgers and Maryland to reach the final and previously had a five-game win streak to end the regular season. Northwestern went on a magical run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, beating North Carolina, No. 2 Iowa, Harvard and Liberty in succession to claim their first crown.

The two teams met to close out the regular season on October 30. If that game was any indication, Friday’s should be a good one. Northwestern came away with a 3-1 victory, but it was a one-goal game entering the fourth quarter before Bente Baekers scored to seal the win. The Wildcats have won the last 11 meetings against Miami, but this will be the first time they’ve met in the postseason.

Virginia 1 - 1 Iowa (SV SO 3 - 4) | 3:30 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

After the high-drama ACC-Big Ten Challenge games earlier in the year, it’s no surprise that the two conferences are meeting in the postseason. On Friday, it’s the ACC's Virginia (13-7) taking on the B1G’s Iowa (11-7) in the first round.

Virginia did all they could against No. 1 North Carolina in the ACC Championship – putting on the pressure and scoring two fourth quarter goals – but still ended up with a 3-2 defeat. Not discouraged, the top-five nationally ranked Cavaliers will play in the NCAA Tournament for the 26th time in program history. Last season, Virginia fell in the first round to B1G challenger Maryland.

The Hawkeyes are appearing in their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, earning an at-large bid after falling in the B1G Quarterfinals against eventual conference champion Michigan. In their previous match, Iowa had blanked Michigan State, 1-0, for their sixth shutout of the season. Anchoring the defense, senior Anthe Nijiziel was subsequently honored as the NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season ranked first in Division I in goals against average (0.87).

In all time matchups, the Hawkeyes and Cavaliers are tied at three wins apiece. The duo has not seen each other since 2014, when Iowa picked up a 4-3 victory.

College Park, Md.

No. 3 Maryland 2 - 1 Liberty 2OT | 12:00 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

No. 3 national seed Maryland (17-3) will host BIG EAST champion Liberty (12-7) in College Park in round one of the NCAA Tournament.

Liberty is back in action at the NCAA Tournament after a historic 2021 season in which they made their first NCAA Championship appearance in program history. As an encore, the Flames knocked out Connecticut in the BIG EAST Semifinal then took down No. 1 seed Old Dominion, 3-1, to win the conference title for the second straight year. Azul Iritxity Irigoyen continues to shine in cage – the junior made four saves against ODU and was dubbed the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Liberty is led offensively by senior Daniella Rhodes.

Head coach Missy Meharg leads Maryland to yet another NCAA postseason appearance. After going 7-1 in conference play, the Terrapins shared the B1G outright season crown with Penn State. Maryland fell in the B1G Semifinals, but had a pair of pertinent wins during the regular season included 2-1 overtime victories against top-three ranked Iowa and Northwestern. Graduate student Danielle van Rootselaar tallied all four goals in the back-to-back wins.

The Terps will be raring to take on Liberty after their season was ended by the Flames in the NCAA Semifinals last season. Liberty’s Charlotte Vaanhold scored in double overtime to secure the 3-2 victory and a spot in the championship game. The two teams are currently tied 1-1 in overall meetings – Maryland defeated Liberty 4-1 in a 2017 regular season matchup

Princeton 2 - 5 Syracuse | 2:30 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

Ivy League champion Princeton (13-4) and Syracuse (15-5) will meet in the NCAA postseason for the sixth time ever in College Park, Md. on Friday afternoon.

After going a perfect 7-0 in conference play, Princeton earned the Ivy League crown and automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to tough conference opponents, the Tigers have taken down big teams like Rutgers and Maryland – and fell by a single goal to powerhouses like North Carolina, Louisville and Northwestern.

Amongst a plethora of Tigers honored as All-Ivy League selections, Beth Yeager and Hannah Davey were named the Ivy League Offensive and Defensive Player of the year, respectively. Princeton owns the eight-best scoring offense in Division I and has an eight-game winning streak entering the postseason 

Syracuse has had their own success so far this season, defeating ranked opponents such as Louisville and Boston College. The Orange kept No. 1 North Carolina to a close contest in the ACC Semifinal, falling just 2-1 against the best offensive unit in the country. Forward Quirine Comans was an All-ACC First Team selection, anchoring the fifth-best offense in goals per game. 

The two clashed earlier this season, with Princeton coming out on top with a big 5-1 victory. Including that match, the duo has met a total of 23 times – with Syracuse sitting 10-13 overall against the Tigers. In the current national rankings, Princeton is ranked seventh while Syracuse is right behind at eighth.

Ann Arbor, Mich.

No.  4 Michigan 1 - 2 UAlbany OT | 12:00 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

Wearing their well-deserved B1G crown, Michigan (14-5) will host America East champion UAlbany (15-4) in Ann Arbor, Mich. for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Coming into the postseason hot, the Wolverines have won 10 of their last 11 contests – outscoring their opponents 33-6. To win the B1G Title, Michigan had to defeat three top-ten opponents consecutively in Iowa, Penn State and Northwestern. Kathryn Peterson earned the honor of Big Ten tournament MVP, sinking two penalty stroke attempts in the 2-1 victory over Penn State. The best in goals against average in Division I is goalkeeper Anna Spieker at 0.74.

UAlbany punched their ticket to the postseason by winning the America East (AE) title in thrilling shootout fashion. Sophomore Blanca Orsola scored in the last three minutes of regulation to send the match into extra time. Fittingly, Orsola’s first goal of her career was against Michigan when the two teams met last season. The Great Danes are returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, and have their work cut out for them with No. 4 Michigan as their opponent. UAlbany does have a few of their own ranked victories this season, including a pair of shootout wins over Boston College and Massachusetts. 

In 2010 and 2012, Michigan defeated Albany in overtime. It would not be until 2021 that the two would meet again, when the Wolverines won 4-1. 

Penn State 5 - 0 Louisville | 2:30 p.m. ET | B1G+($)

It’s another battle of the B1G and ACC with Louisville (12-7) taking on Penn State (15-3) in the first round of NCAA Tournament play.

The Nittany Lions recently fell, 2-1, to B1G Champion Michigan in the conference semifinals. Penn State did claim the B1G regular season title outright, though, with a 7-1 record. The Nittany Lions had taken down the Wolverines in regular season play, as well as big names in Virginia and Maryland. Junior Sophia Gladieux has been heating up the Lion offense – scoring in eight of their last nine games, including an overtime game-winner against Iowa. Gladieux was honored as both the B1G Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.

The Cardinals return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Despite taking their lumps in conference play - they finished just 1-6, including an ACC Tournament loss to Virginia - Louisville is not to be taken lightly. The Cardinals already have a win over Penn State in the regular season alongside victories over Princeton, Michigan and Liberty. A big part of Louisville’s success has been a stingy defense anchored by All-ACC First Team selections in goaltender Sasha Elliott and defender Julie Kouijzer.

Louisville traveled to State College, Pa. earlier this season and took down the Lions, 2-1. The Cardinals’ previous 3-0 victory in 2019 was the first meeting between the two teams.

Second Round: Sunday, November 13

Chapel Hill, N.C.

No 1. North Carolina 5 - 2 Saint Joseph's | 12:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+($)

Saint Joseph's will take on No. 1 North Carolina on the Tar Heels’ home turf - Karen Shelton Stadium - in the NCAA Second Round on Sunday.

The Tar Heels showed off in the first round with a 5-1 victory over Delaware. It was the Blue Hens who struck first - scoring a goal in the first eight seconds - to become just the second team to lead UNC this season. The Tar Heels woke up and snapped back into their crisp style of play, scoring all five of their goals in the first two quarters. Sophomore Kennedy Clinggett tallied the tying and go-ahead goals. 

Saint Joseph’s picked up their first NCAA Tournament victory in program history with a 3-1 win over Wake Forest. After giving up an early goal, the Hawks added three unanswered goals from three separate athletes and held a tough defensive line. Robin Bleekemolen made five saves in cage for the Hawks. Saint Joseph’s had gone 0-4 in NCAA postseason play over their program’s history, but has finally got over that hurdle.

North Carolina handed the Hawks a 6-0 shutout – their worst loss of the season – when the two met in October. ACC Freshman of the Year winner Ryleigh Heck had a hat trick in the win, while ACC Offensive Player of the Year Erin Matson logged four points. Saint Joseph’s will be looking to avenge this defeat and remind UNC what the Atlantic Ten is capable of. It was the Hawks who came out on top with a 3-2 victory when the duo previously met in 2021.

Evanston, Ill.
No. 2 Northwestern 2 - 1 Iowa (SV SO: 4 - 3) | 2:00 p.m. et | B1G+($)

Both emptying their tanks to get a victory on Friday, Northwestern and Iowa will recharge for Sunday when they play for a spot in the semifinals. Both teams won their First Round games in the most dramatic fashion fathomable – after a video referral ended their respective shootouts. 

Northwestern took on a feisty Miami team. After being denied on their first penalty stroke by Red Hawk goalkeeper Isabelle Perese, Peyton Halsey buried one in the third quarter to give the Wildcats the 1-0 lead. It wasn’t until the 51st minute that Miami tied it up at 1-1. Still tied through two evenly matched overtimes, the teams headed into shootouts. The real drama came when goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz asked for a video referral on Miami’s tying shootout goal in the fifth round. After review, the goal was called back, securing the 2-1 victory for Northwestern and a spot in the Second Round. Skubisz had a stellar performance both in regulation and the shootouts.

In another thrilling contest, Iowa also needed shootouts to take a 2-1 victory over Virginia. An extremely intense and physical match, it was Esme Gibson who scored first for the Hawkeyes right before the end of the first quarter. After Virginia’s goal at the start of the fourth quarter, no goal was scored for the rest of play. The Hawkeyes headed into shootouts with the Cavaliers, where the teams both went 3-for-5 to send it to sudden victory. The goal to end it all by Iowa’s Lieve Schalk was contended by Virginia – but after the video referral was conducted and the goal stood, it was Iowa’s turn to finally enjoy their victory.

For those feeling déjà vu, Northwestern played Iowa in this same round last season. The Wildcats defeated the Hawkeyes, 1-0, with a goal in the final minute of play from Lauren Wadas. When the two met in conference play earlier this fall, Iowa gave Northwestern their first loss of the season. In the 2-0 shutout, junior Alex Wesneski scored twice.

College park, md.
Maryland 3 - 2 Syracuse (SV SO: 3 - 2) | 1:00 p.m. et | B1G+($)

In a rematch of last season’s Second Round game, Syracuse will take on Maryland in College Park, Md. on Sunday.

In the First Round, Syracuse came in looking to avenge their 5-1 loss to Princeton earlier this season. They did just that, claiming a 5-2 victory to advance to the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. The Tigers led the Orange twice before Charlotte de Vries broke the cycle with the go-ahead goal - her second of the match - in the third quarter. Quirine Comans tallied two assists in the win.

Maryland gave us yet another overtime thriller with their 2-1 victory over Liberty, avenging their double overtime loss to the Flames in last year’s NCAA Tournament in the process. The two teams battled until the end, when Riley Donnelly netted the game-winner off a penalty stroke in the 72nd minute of play. The Flames put up a tough fight, which included a penalty stroke save from Azul Iritxity Irigoyen with three minutes left that could’ve ended the match in regulation. No stranger to the NCAA postseason, Maryland is one step closer for a chance to win their ninth NCAA Championship - which would tie them with Old Dominion and North Carolina for the most in Division I history.

In this same matchup in the NCAA Second Round last season, Maryland claimed a 2-1 victory in front of over 1,000 fans to end the season for the Orange. Bibi Donraadt, who played 59 minutes against Liberty on Friday, tallied the game-winner in that matchup. In overall meetings dating back to 1982, Maryland leads 7-2.

Ann Arbor, Mich.
UAlbany 0 - 1 Penn State | 1:00 p.m. et | B1G+($)

After upsetting No. 4 Michigan, UAlbany will take on Penn State in the NCAA Second Round on Sunday afternoon.

Penn State had the most dominant win of the first round, posting a 5-0 shutout over Louisville. Despite the Cardinals best efforts, they could not stop the offensive outpouring, which included two goals apiece from Anna Simon and Sophia Gladiuex. The Lions continue to look strong, as they head to their third NCAA Second Round in the last 10 years. 

From start to finish, those watching could tell that UAlbany wanted the win badly. The Great Danes went down 1-0 in the final minute before halftime, but never got discouraged against the fourth-ranked, Big Ten champions Michigan. It was sophomore Floor de Ruiter who scored the tying goal off a penalty corner in the 57th minute, and freshman Sophia Shoonmaker who lifted the ball into the net off a long pass from Elaina Burchell to clinch a 2-1 victory in the final minute of overtime. Senior Hannah Mangan joined the rest of her team with a stellar performance and eight saves. The last time the Great Danes were in the NCAA Second Round was in 2014. 

The pair clashed early on this season – the Lions picked up their first road victory with a 6-2 win over the Great Danes. Gladieux tallied a hat trick and four points in the victory, while Mackenzie Allessie, Elena Vos and Simon all had two assists. Penn State has been the winner of all four meetings. 

 

Division III: First, Second & Third Rounds

 

First Round: Wednesday, November 9

Ewing, N.J.

TCNJ 7 - 0 Wilson | 2:00 p.m. ET | Livestream

After earning an at-large bid, TCNJ (12-6) will host Colonial State Athletic Conference (CSAC) champion Wilson (12-3) for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.

By getting hot at the right time, the Lions were able to secure an at-large bid even after falling 1-0 to Rowan in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Final. Before the loss, TCNJ had won eight straight games, including their big NJAC Semifinal victory over No. 11 Kean. In the 4-3 overtime win, junior Sophia Foschini netted two goals while senior Jess Hatch handed out a pair of assists. The Lions’ ‘cold spell’ earlier in the season included one-goal losses to a trio of ranked opponents – Messiah, Ursinus and Salisbury. 

Wilson earned their spot by winning the CSAC Championship for the third consecutive year. The Phoenix downed Keystone, 2-0, in the final – making it six consecutive shutouts for the defense. Goalkeeper Allyson Shindler has been a force in the cage, compiling seven shutouts on the year. 

TCNJ returns to the national tournament for the first time since 2019, and looks to add to their haul of 11 all-time NCAA Championship titles – the most in Division III. Wilson is looking for their first win in the NCAA Tournament, having been defeated in their two previous first-round appearances.

Lexington, Va.

Washington & Lee 3 - 0 Ohio Wesleyan | 2:30 p.m. ET | W&L All-Access

Two teams with very similar journeys face off for the first time as Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) winner Washington and Lee (16-2) hosts North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) champion Ohio Wesleyan (16-2).

After falling to Lynchburg, 3-2, to open conference play, the Generals racked up eight straight wins before taking on the Hornets again in the ODAC Championship. This time, it was Washington and Lee who came out on top, after Peyton Tysinger scored in overtime to make it 1-0. 

In very similar fashion, Ohio Wesleyan bounced back from a loss to conference opponent DePauw in the regular season with eight wins before meeting the Tigers again in the NCAC title match. Like the Generals, the Bishops won their crown with a 1-0 overtime victory. It was Veronica Hardman who put it away for Ohio Wesleyan. Scoreless victories are the norm for the Bishops, who lead Division III with an NCAC-record 17 shutouts. Goalkeeper Meg McCarthy has given up just one goal over 1,000 minutes played.

Both teams are back-to-back champions of their respective conferences. In their 2021 NCAA Tournament appearances, both the Generals and Bishops won their first match, then fell to Rowan in their second. Washington and Lee had a bye in the first round, falling in the regional final.

Rochester, N.Y.

Rochester 2 - 0 New England | 3:00 p.m. ET | Livestream

Rochester (16-5) returns to the national tournament after missing out in 2021 to take on Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) champion University of New England (11-9) for the very first time. Awaiting the winner in the next round is No. 7 Babson. 

Despite a shootout loss to William Smith in the Liberty League final, Rochester earned an at-large bid and will aim to extend their postseason as well as their regulation shutout streak (now at seven games). Rochester’s defense is led by freshman Kara Houston in goal, who is ranked second in Division III for both save percentage (0.882) and goals against average (0.52). The Yellowjackets enter the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 18 nationally.

UNE won a tightly contested match against conference rival Endicott by a 3-2 margin for the CCC Crown. The Nor’easters are back in the tournament after losing to Endicott in the conference championship each of the past three seasons. They have found early success in the postseason historically, going 4-1 in the NCAA First Round, and will look for similar results against Rochester.

Newport News, Va.

Christopher Newport 3 - 1 Cabrini | 4:00 p.m. ET | CNU All-Acces

In a rematch of a NCAA Tournament first round game from 13 years ago, Christopher Newport (14-5) will host Atlantic East Conference (AEC) champion Cabrini (14-4).

Christopher Newport’s at-large bid means two-thirds of the three-team Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Conference earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The other C2C team, No. 1 Salisbury, handed the Captains two of their defeats this season by slim 2-0 and 1-0 margins. In 2021, Christopher Newport could not get past Centre in the first round – suffering a 2-1 double-overtime loss to end their season.

With a 3-0 victory over St. Mary’s, Cabrini clinched a second AEC Title in a row and their first NCAA berth since 2016. Junior Caroline Gallagher has proven to be invaluable for the Cavaliers, netting 23 goals and tallying 12 assists thus far, with five points in the conference title match.

Cabrini faced Christopher Newport for the first and only time in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Captains edged the Cavaliers, 1-0.

MIT 4 - 1 SUNY Cortland | 4:00 p.m. ET | Team1Sports

In a Northeast battle, MIT (15-4) clashes with State University Of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion SUNY Cortland (14-4) for the first time. The victor will go on to play top-seeded Middlebury. 

For the sixth consecutive year, MIT advanced to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championship – only to fall to No. 10 Babson for the second season in a row. While that loss ended the Engineers campaign last year, this time around MIT earned an at-large bid for the first time in program history. The Engineers only lost four games all season, all to ranked opponents – Tufts, Amherst and Babson.

Cortland defeated No. 1 seed Geneseo with a 2-1 overtime victory to claim the SUNYAC Title for the first time since 2017. Tournament MVP Hannah Corrigan tallied a goal in both the final and their 2-1 semifinal win over Oneota. The Red Dragons have been national champions as recently as 2001. Last season, Cortland fell 1-0 in the conference championship to New Paltz, but earned an at-large bid to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1.

Williams 8 - 0 Johnson & Wales | 5:00 p.m. ET | NSN

Williams (12-5) enters the NCAA postseason after a brief hiatus to host the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champion Johnson and Wales (19-1) on Wednesday.

Facing stiff competition, the Ephs were shut out by Middlebury, 4-0, in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship. Not a stranger to being roughed up by the Panthers, Williams looked ahead to the NCAA Selection Show, where it was revealed they were given an at-large bid for the first time since 2006. Discounting games against Middlebury, Williams was getting hot toward the end of the season with six victories. Senior Kiki Higgins scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 semifinal victory against Amherst.

A 3-1 victory over Simmons secured Johnson and Wales their second GNAC Title and second NCAA Tournament appearance. In their first postseason run in 2021, the Wildcats played stout defense but eventually fell to Tufts, 1-0, in the first round. This season, JWU has only lost a single contest - to another tournament team in MIT - and scored 80 goals in 20 games. Graduate student Jilliam Miele, who ranks in the Top-5 nationally for both points and assists per game, is two goals away from breaking her previous single season program record of 25 goals.

The Ephs and the Wildcats will cross paths for the first time in this high-stakes match-up.

Medford, Mass.

Tufts 4 - 1 Castleton | 5:00 p.m. ET | Livestream

Little East Conference (LEC) champion Castleton (14-7) will travel to Tufts (12-6) in an attempt to clinch their first NCAA Tournament victory.

Castleton took home their first LEC trophy with a 2-1 victory over Southern Maine. Earning the automatic berth, the Spartans will make their triumphant return to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2013. To get to the conference final, Castelton defeated Fitchburg State and Worcester State – two teams they had lost to in the regular season. Junior Emily Harris, who tallied a goal in the win over Southern Maine, currently has the most points per game (4.05) in all of NCAA Field Hockey.

The Spartans have a steep challenge ahead of them. Tufts is ranked sixth nationally and has seven victories against ranked opponents this season. The Jumbos defeated No. 20 Bates and No. 5 Trinity in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament, but could not get past the brick wall that is Middlebury in the championship match. Senior Reegan McCluskey scored the lone goal in both 1-0 conference tournament victories.

This is the third consecutive year that Tufts has received an at-large bid to the NCAA postseason. The Spartans and Jumbos have only met once before, and it also happened to be in the NCAA First Round. The year was 2012 and Tufts claimed a dominant 8-0 victory.

York, Pa.

York 4 - 2 DeSales | 6:00 p.m. ET | Spartans All-Access

It’ll be a “Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC)” clash in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, as MAC Freedom champion DeSales (15-4) and at-large bid York (15-5)  - the MAC Commonwealth runner-up  - face off. Both teams will make program history, each making their NCAA Tournament debut and will fight for their first postseason victory. 

York fell to MAC Commonwealth powerhouse Messiah, 2-0, in the final, giving the Falcons their ninth consecutive conference title. However, it turned out that the Spartan’s strong schedule and performance over the season was enough to secure them a postseason berth for the first time. York stuck with top-three teams like Johns Hopkins and Salisbury earlier this season, falling 1-0 in both cases. 

DeSales looks to continue their historic season in which they clinched their first ever MAC Freedom title, first NCAA berth and tallied the most wins in a season in program history. The Bulldogs defeated Misericordia in the conference semifinal and Arcadia in the final, both by  tight 3-2 scorelines. Senior Catie McGrath netted a goal in each match and picked up the honor of tournament MVP.

The pair have met twice before, but not recently. York was victorious over DeSales in both their meetings in 2011 and 2012.

Geneva, N.Y.

William Smith 4 - 0 Hartwick | 6:00 p.m. ET | HWS All-Access

In what will be a battle of New York schools, Liberty League champion William Smith (16-2) faces Empire 8 victor Hartwick (12-6) in Geneva, N.Y. The winner will move on to face Johns Hopkins.

William Smith entered the Liberty League Tournament as the No. 3 seed, but won a pair of dramatic games to clinch their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015 and fourth all time. The Herons used a golden goal from Libby Maxwell to beat Ithaca in the semifinals, then needed shootouts to knock off top-seeded Rochester. William Smith is no stranger to the postseason, having made 22 appearances and claimed three national titles (most recently in 2000).

Hartwick dominated the Empire 8. The Hawks were a perfect 9-0 in regular season conference play, then breezed through the conference tournament with wins over Utica and Houghton by a combined 9-1 margin. It was a dominant 11-game run for Hartwick, who had fallen in the conference semifinals and finals in the previous two seasons. The Hawks have two NCAA appearances in five years under head coach Erin Autera after a 12-year drought.

Despite being located less than three hours apart, the teams haven’t met since 1997 and have just 19 games between them. William Smith has won the last six and boasts a 14-5 edge in the all-time series.

Trinity 1 - 0 Catholic | 6:00 p.m. ET

Landmark Conference champion Catholic (11-7) will make the trip north for a first-round matchup as they face Trinity (13-4) in Hartford, Conn.

Ranked fifth nationally, Trinity waited patiently for an at-large bid after falling to Tufts, 1-0, in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Semifinals. Trinity is one of four NESCAC teams - the most of any Division III conference - to advance to the NCAA postseason, a field which includes Tufts who were defeated by Middlebury in the conference final. Trinity is the only team to have beaten reigning champion No. 1 Middlebury this season, handing the Panthers their first homefield defeat since 2017.

Last season, Trinity made a run in the NCAA Tournament as far as the semifinals, where they fell to Johns Hopkins 1-0. 

The Landmark Conference crown came down to two underdogs as No. 3 seed Catholic played No. 4 seed Moravian for the title. Catholic defeated the Greyhounds, 4-2, as tournament MVP Mary Parker netted two goals in the victory, while the team’s leading scorer Molly McEvoy tallied one. The Cardinals hoisted the trophy and return to NCAA postseason for the first time since 2015.

Second Round: Saturday, November 12

Salisbury, Md.

Salisbury 1 - 0 York | 10:00 a.m. ET | SGSN

After a bye in the first round of play, No. 1 Salisbury (17-0) will host York (16-5) at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday.

Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Conference champion Salisbury enters postseason play as the only Division III team with an unbeaten record. The Gulls are making their 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and seek their first championship title since 2009. Salisbury has outscored their opponents 75-11 so far this year and are led in points (41) by senior Allie Davis.

York set another program benchmark on Wednesday after clinching their first-ever NCAA postseason victory. The Spartans defeated DeSales in their debut 4-2, with the game-winner coming from senior Connie Harbuburda. DeSales’ goalkeeper Kayla Yeatman kept her team fighting against a fury of Spartan shots with 16 saves.

Despite the daunting task of taking on the top ranked team, York has the luxury of familiarity with Salisbury. Earlier this season, the Spartans were shutout just 1-0 by the Gulls. Salisbury scored in the 12th minute, but that was all they could manage. Up until 2020, York and Salisbury were conference opponents – so the two have met almost every year since 2000. In their 29 all-time meetings, the Spartans have never been able to defeat the Gulls.

Williams 3 - 0 Washington & Lee | 1:00 p.m. ET | SGSN

After both gliding by their first-round opponents, Williams (13-5) and Washington and Lee (17-2) will battle it out in their first-ever meeting.

Williams had a dominant first-round showing with their 8-0 victory over Johnson and Wales. The Ephs tallied 27 shots on goal while the defense allowed just two. Kiki Higgins – the New Engladn Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Rookie of the Year – tallied an assist in the victory. Senior forward Emily Batchelor was also recently honored in the high-powered conference as the NESCAC Player of the Year. 

Washington and Lee was put up against Ohio Wesleyan – a team who had only let up one goal over their entire season – for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Generals responded by blanking the Bishops, 3-0. The victory advanced WLU to the second round and simultaneously gave head coach Gina Wills her 100th victory with the Generals. 

Washington and Lee is one of the hotter teams in the field, having claimed 10 straight victories, but Williams is battle-hardened from a tough conference schedule and looked crisp in the first round. 

Babson Park, Mass.

Babson 3 - 1 Rochester | 11:00 a.m. ET | Babson Sports Network

Babson (18-3) welcomes Rochester (17-5) to MacDowell Field for the first time in an NCAA Tournament second-round matchup. 

New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) champion and No. 7 nationally-ranked Babson earned a bye in the first round and the opportunity to host the second and third rounds of play. The Beavers are currently on a 14-game win streak - second only to Salisbury - and recently received NEWMAC honors, including Berit Sharrow as Defensive Player of the Year after winning Rookie of the Year as a freshman last fall.

Rochester defeated University of New England, 2-0, in their first-round contest, with senior Nikki Mercer tallying her eighth game-winning goal of the season. Despite losing the Liberty League title in shootouts to William Smith, the Yellowjackets cleaned up in conference awards. Karina Bridger and Elisabeth Sidorski were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, while Maeve Fogarty picked up Rookie of the Year. To top it all off, head coach Wendy Andreatta and her staff were honored as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Beavers have made seven NCAA Tournament appearances but a championship berth has eluded them thus far. Their pursuit of three straight wins will begin against Rochester, who have seven postseason appearances as well but haven't advanced past the quarterfinals.

Johns Hopkins 1 - 0 William Smith | 2:00 p.m. ET | Babson Sports Network

Centennial Conference champion Johns Hopkins (16-3) clashes with Liberty League victor William Smith (14-4) on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Runners-up to the 2021 NCAA Title, Johns Hopkins began this year’s postseason journey with another first-round bye. The Blue Jays cruised through Centennial play, going a perfect 10-0, and capping it off with a penalty shootout victory over Bryn Mawr in the tournament final. Johns Hopkins has won 13 straight and are currently ranked fourth nationally after a schedule that included wins over Washington and Lee, Messiah and York. Abby Birk and Anna Scott were recently named as repeat selections to the All-Centennial Conference team.

William Smith dominated Hartwick, 4-0, in their first-round matchup on Wednesday with goals from four different contributors. After their previous victory over Rochester to claim the Liberty League title, the Herons jumped up six spots in the national rankings to settle in at No. 17. 

Johns Hopkins is looking to hoist the NCAA Championship trophy for the first time, especially after being so close last season. William Smith on the other hand seeks to return to their former glory, having won a total of three titles - in 1992, 1997 and 2000. 

The two will finally meet again after their single matchup in 2005. The Herons topped the Blue Jays 3-2 in that meeting.

Middlebury, Vt.

Middlebury 8 - 0 MIT | 11:00 a.m. ET | NSN

Middlebury (17-1) will host MIT (16-4) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. ET.

With just one loss on their season to conference foe Trinity, Middlebury currently ranks second nationally behind Salisbury. The Panthers are looking to defend their national title for yet another year, having established themselves as a division powerhouse after winning the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight time last season. Offensive leaders Amy Griffin and Katie George both recently earned NESCAC First Team honors. Defensively, the Panthers have been stout, allowing just 12 goals in 18 games.

MIT made big moves in the first round, defeating opponent SUNY Cortland, 4-1. Leading scorer Paige Forester netted an insurance goal in the fourth quarter after being named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Athlete of the Year for the second time. Bailey McIntyre was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year – the first Engineer to claim that honor since Forester won it in 2019. The Engineers now have the opportunity to topple the reigning champion in just the second round, but will need to be firing on all cylinders to keep up with the Panthers.

MIT and Middlebury have only met twice before, back in 2012 and 2013. The Panthers have a pair of wins over the Engineers.

Trinity 2 - 1 TCNJ | 2:00 p.m. ET | NSN

Trinity (14-4) will take on TCNJ (13-6) for the first time as the two battle for a spot in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Trinity secured their place in the second round with a penalty stroke goal from senior captain Elle Fair in their match against Catholic. Despite outshooting the Cardinals 12-1, Fair’s goal in the first few minutes would be the only one of the contest. A stout defensive effort kept Catholic off the board, allowing just a single shot through 60 minutes. The Bantams are familiar with playing at Kohn Field, having defeated Middlebury there earlier this season. 

Meanwhile, the Lions showed off their offensive capability in a 7-0 victory over Wilson in their first-round match. Sophomore Carly Cole netted the goal-winner off of a penalty corner just 40 seconds into the contest. There wasn’t much action for the Lion’s defense and New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Defensive Player of the Year Kileigh Plfuger – but they will need to be at the top of their game against Trinity’s offense.

Trinity’s defense has been their strength all year - not a lot of teams can hold Middlebury to a single goal - but TCNJ’s is similarly impressive (22 goals allowed in 19 games) and it could have the makings of a defensive battle.

Glassboro, N.J.

Rowan 4 - 0 Christopher Newport | 11:00 a.m. ET | YouTube

Opening NCAA second-round play at the eventual championship location in Glassboro, N.J., Rowan (19-1) will host Christopher Newport (15-5).

Rowan will undoubtedly be hungry to come away with a championship this postseason. They fell to Middlebury in the NCAA Semifinals last fall, held the top spot in Division III for a few weeks this season and could have the opportunity to play in the championship game on their home turf. The Profs most recently defeated TCNJ, 1-0, to take the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Title. Sophomore Vanessa DiDonato received Honorable Mention in the NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week selection after a stand-out performance in the NJAC Tournament, including four goals against Montclair State. Offensive stars Julia Patrone and Kristiina Castagnola also continue to shine for the Profs. 

On Wednesday, No. 16 Christopher Newport held off a tough Cabrini team to secure a 3-1 victory and advance to the second round. The Captains had two victories over ranked opponents in regular season play, and just narrowly lost to No. 1 Salisbury, 1-0. To compare mutual opponents, the top-seeded Gulls were the only team to defeat Rowan so far this season. Anchoring Christopher Newport’s defense is goalkeeper Lily Kerr, who currently ranks fourth nationally in goals against average (0.58). 

The Profs hold a 3-0 advantage over the Captains in all-time meetings, although their most recent contest was in 2011.

Messiah 2 - 1 Tufts | 2:00 p.m. ET | YouTube

Tufts (13-6) will take on MAC Commonwealth champion Messiah (16-2) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

The Jumbos return to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season after receiving a well-deserved at-large bid. Tufts faced Little East Conference (LEC) Champion Castleton as their first-round foe and downed the Spartans, 4-1. The Jumbos picked up an impressive five ranked victories over the course of the regular season, including two against current postseason contenders Williams and Trinity. New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) First-Team selection Reegan McCluskey leads the Jumbos offensively.

After winning the MAC Commonwealth Championship for the 15th consecutive year with a 2-0 victory over York, Messiah received a bye for the first round of NCAA postseason play. After that victory, senior Ashlyn Smith was named the MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year while Mallory Kline was dubbed Rookie of the Year. The Falcons are the most recent team to have won an NCAA Title before Middlebury began their reign, winning it in 2016.

When these two teams last met, it was on November 20, 2016 in the NCAA Championship. The duo went shot for shot without a score through regulation and double overtime, but it was Messiah who won in shootouts to clinch their first-ever NCAA Championship. Although the players are gone, Tufts head coach Tina Mattera – who led her team to an NCAA title in 2012 – will remember.

Third Round: Sunday, November 13

Salisbury, Md.

Salisbury 0 - 2 Williams | 1:00 p.m. ET | SGSN

After dispatching York, top-seeded Salisbury will look to extend their unbeaten season on Sunday afternoon against Williams, who has made the most of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006 with back-to-back wins over Johnson and Wales and Washington and Lee.

The Spartans gave No. 1 Salisbury a run for their money, coming out strong in the first quarter and keeping the game tight throughout. It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Gulls finally tallied the first and only goal of the game. Allie Davis scored her 19th of the season with an assist from McKenzie Mitchell. Salisbury was in the NCAA Semifinals as recently as 2019, but saw their season end in the Third Round last season and aim to avoid that fate.

Williams kept a steady hold on Washington and Lee, coming out on top with a 3-0 win over the Generals. The Ephs - who went 16 years without an NCAA Tournament appearance - have now won their first two games by a combined margin of 11-0. On Saturday, Williams’ senior and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Year Emily Batchelor scored her 20th goal of the year to set a new program record for goals in a single season.The Ephs finished with a 14-5 edge in shots and got additional goals from Shea van den Broek and Kelly McCarthy.

A win over Salisbury would be historic for Williams, who has yet to reach the NCAA Semifinals in program history. The two teams have never met, making Saturday’s meeting particularly intriguing.

Babson Park, Mass.

Babson 0 - 1 Johns Hopkins | 1:00 p.m. ET

Two conference champions square off in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon: the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victor Babson hosts the Centennial Conference winner Johns Hopkins with a berth in the Semifinals at stake.

Babson, after a first-round bye, took down Rochester by a 3-1 scoreline. Caroline DiGiovanni tallied twice for the Beavers, who have won a remarkable 15 straight games. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Babson tallied in the second and third to take a 2-0 lead into the final quarter. Rochester got a goal back, but DiGiovanni’s second of the day sealed the win. The Beavers have reached the Third Round in back-to-back seasons but will look to take it a step further after losing in this round in 2021.

Johns Hopkins enjoyed a bye as well but had a less comfortable first-round victory. The Blue Jays faced William Smith and eked out a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal with seven minutes to play from Gen Mehra. Mehra’s goal broke a 50-plus minute deadlock in which Johns Hopkins dominated the stat sheet, but failed to score. The Blue Jays, in winning their 14th straight game, outshot the Herons 16-1 and had a 13-1 penalty corner advantage.

For two talented field hockey programs, it’s surprising the pair have met just once back in 2011. Babson came away with a 3-2 win at Babson Park.

Middlebury, Vt.

Middlebury 3 - 0 Trinity | 1:00 p.m. ET | NSN

Middlebury will now face the team that gave them their single loss on their 18-1 season – Trinity – in the NCAA Third Round. 

Looking to extend their NCAA dynasty to a remarkable five seasons, Middlebury showed off with an 8-0 victory over MIT in their Second Round contest. The Panthers made sure to score early and often – their first goal coming in just the second minute from Audrey Lazar. Middlebury would finish out the first quarter already leading by three. In overall shots, the Panthers led the Engineers 22-4. 

Trinity held off a tough TCNJ offensive to come out on top with a 2-1 victory. Despite being led statistically by the Lions, the Bantam defense held strong as per usual. Olivia McMichael performed in goal with 15 saves on the day. Sandwiching a TCNJ goal, it was Trinity’s Katrina Winfield and Izzy Deveney who scored the two goals for the Bantams. 

Earlier this season, the seemingly impossible to stop Middlebury was halted by NESCAC opponent Trinity. The Bantams ended Middlebury’s 42-game win streak with the 2-1 victory. In overall meetings, Middlebury holds a 31-10 advantage.

Glassboro, N.J.

Rowan 3 - 1 Messiah | 1:00 p.m. ET | YouTube

With a Semifinal spot on the line, Rowan will host Messiah in the Third Round at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Rowan shutdown Christopher Newport, 4-0, to advance to the third round of NCAA postseason play. Kristiina Castagnola opened up scoring for the Profs with a goal at the 9-minute mark, assisted by Julia Cavicchio. The Captains looked dangerous for parts of the first quarter – like they could break out and score the tying goal at any minute. This was no longer the case in the second half, when the Profs took control and opened up their offense – scoring three more goals. Rowan once again looked dominant and ready to take on their opponent on Sunday. 

Like when they last met with Tufts in the 2016 final, Messiah took down the Jumbos yet again. It was another competitive match, with the Falcons winning 2-1 despite Tufts having the advantage in shots (12-6) and penalty corners (13-4). Senior goalkeeper Catie Brubaker made seven saves, including a huge penalty stroke stop in the fourth quarter. Messiah’s Kelsey Heltzel opened the scoring in the 16th minute, then Lauren Seubert tacked on the eventual game-winner in the 38th minute on a penalty stroke.

Rowan and Messiah have not played each other since 2013 when the Falcons claimed a 3-1 victory – their sixth consecutive win over the Profs. Rowan won their first matchup in 2008.