Weekend College Games: September 15 - 21

Each week, USA Field Hockey' highlights some college games in Division I, II and III.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

DIII: Wheaton vs. Endicott | 7:00 p.m. ET | NEWMAC Sports Network

A Massachusetts matchup ensues Thursday night as Wheaton (1-4) takes on Endicott (2-2).

Wheaton sits at 1-4 thus far, but their single win a 6-0 blowout victory against Nichols last weekend. Six different players found the back of the net for the Lyons in the win. Their recent 1-0 loss to Simmons was the first time Wheaton’s offense has been shutout this season.

 

The Gulls come to Norton, Mass., with a 2-2 overall record, falling only to ranked teams in No. 19 Vassar and No. 20 MIT. Stepping up in the cage as a freshman, goalkeeper Alexis DeMattia earned the dual honors of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week.

 

Endicott has been on a hot streak against Wheaton, winning five consecutive matchups. Most recently, the Gulls claimed a 6-0 victory in their 2018 season opener against the Lyons.

Friday, September 16, 2022

DI: No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 2 North Carolina | 3:00 p.m. ET | ACCNX ($)

A top-five showdown ensues this Friday as No. 4 Louisville (6-0) takes on No. 2 North Carolina (6-0). This high-powered matchup marks the opening of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, with other conference games including No. 9 Virginia at No. 21 Boston College and No. 18 Duke at No. 10 Syracuse.

Both teams boast perfect records through six games, including at least three victories against ranked opponents. There have been a few mutual opponents – UNC defeated Princeton, 4-3, while Louisville took down the Tigers, 2-1. Then, against Michigan, the Tar Heels won an early season matchup, 5-1, while the Cardinals recently had a 2-1 victory.

Louisville’s goalkeeper Sasha Elliott has had a stellar season so far, and earned this week’s NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week on top of ACC Defensive Player of the Week. Elliott’s recent highlights include six saves in the Cardinal’s 2-1 win against Michigan, including one on a penalty stroke.

Last year, it was the Cardinals who came away with a 3-2 overtime win against UNC. The then-No. 4 Cardinals held the No. 10 Tar Heels to just four shots and got the game-winner from Aimee Plumb, who has a pair of goals this year. In overall matchups, Louisville has six wins to North Carolina’s 10.

DI: Temple vs. Quinnipiac | 5:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+ ($)

Quinnipiac (3-2) makes the trip down I-95 to Philadelphia on Friday evening to take on conference rival Temple (5-1).

The underdogs of the Big East - picked to finish last in the conference - the Bobcats have already knocked off a ranked opponent (Maine) and have a 3-2 record. The 5-1 Owls, meanwhile, have shown that they can hang with top competition, falling only to No. 12 Virginia in a narrow 1-0 game. 

Highlighting Temple’s defense, goalkeeper Molly Frey has the second-best goals against average (0.67) mark in Division I, in no small part due to senior defender McKenna Burkhardt, the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Week.

In their two most recent matches, the Owls and Bobcats have been evenly matched. In 2021, Temple claimed a 3-2 victory in shootouts, while in 2019, Quinnipiac was the victor in double overtime by the same score.

DI: Lock Haven vs. La Salle | 3:00 p.m. ET | PSAC Digital Network

Atlantic 10 (A-10) conference play opens up on Friday with a series of 3:00 p.m. ET matchups, including Lock Haven (5-0) hosting La Salle (3-3). At the same time, Virginia Commonwealth will take on No. 13 Saint Joseph’s while Saint Louis battles No. 20 Massachusetts.

Lock Haven is 5-0 on their season and has had a series of close contests, each win has been by a margin of one goal, with two coming in overtime. Defense has been crucial to the Eagles’ victories, with the A10 Defensive Player of the Week Jazmin Palma - back in full swing after an injury last season - anchoring the back line. Lock Haven, which has already matched last year’s win total, seeks to extend their win streak with a conference victory. 

La Salle stands at an even 3-3 on their season, most recently pulled out a 3-0 win over Rider in their home opener. Returning junior Tatum Johnson has already accumulated five goals and three assists for the Explorers, while sophomore Sofia Pla has continued to show strength on the defensive line. The team has also brought in several new talented players including defender Malena Balduzzi. Now in her second season as head coach, Martu Loncarica is looking to lead the Explorers to their first winning season since 2017.

Lock Haven was unable to make the trip to Philadelphia in 2021, but claimed victory over the Explorers in their previous five meetings. La Salle is currently at four wins overall to the Eagles’ 13.

DII: Coker vs. Mount Olive | 3:00 p.m. ET | FloLive ($)

Coker (2-0) will host Mount Olive (0-3) in another early-season South Athletic Conference (SAC) contest.

After capturing their first win of the season against Bloomsburg, the Cobras next took down conference foe Wingate, 4-3. Key on the attacking line has been junior Kaiya Sabur, who notched the game winner against Bloomsburg then grabbed SAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Sabur, a transfer from Towson, has two goals and an assist through three games.

Mount Olive started their season stacked with tough opponents, making for a winless start through three games. The Trojans had a 6-0 loss to No. 2 West Chester and a tighter 4-1 defeat to reigning champion Shippensburg. Freshman Nikki Bos tallied the lone goal against the Raiders. 

In the 2021 season, Mount Olive had a pair of identical 2-1 victories over Coker. The Trojans have won the other three matchups, which took place in 2020 and 2019.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

DII: Slippery Rock vs. No. 3 East Stroudsburg | 12:00 p.m. ET | Rock Athletics Network

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play continues with a matchup between Slippery Rock (3-1) and No. 3 East Stroudsburg (4-0). Both teams are looking to start conference play on the right foot.

The Warriors have earned their No. 3 spot with a quartet of shutout wins, including a high-scoring 6-0 victory against then-No. 4 Assumption. The Rocks had made their own waves, winning their past three games to improve their record to 3-1 this season. 

East Stroudsburg has been the victor in all but one of the twenty contests between the two - it was back in 2014 when Slippery Rock slid in with a 2-1 victory. In their most recent season, the Warriors defeated the Rocks, 3-1.

DII: Adelphi vs. No. 1 West Chester | 3:00 p.m. ET | NE10 TV

Adelphi (1-2) welcomes newly crowned No. 1 West Chester (4-0) to Motamed Field on Saturday.

This week, West Chester stole the top spot away from reigning champion Shippensburg in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches Poll. The Golden Rams are now 4-0, most recently downing Mount Olive and New Haven by scores of 6-0 and 8-0, respectively. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Gula’s pair of shutouts this weekend got her recognized as the NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week on top of PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week.

The Panthers have gone 1-2 so far on their season, with all games coming against top-10 teams. They beat preseason top-10 team New Haven in overtime, then fell to No. 4 Millersville and No. 5 Kutztown. Adelphi claimed three out of four of this week’s Northeast 10 (NE10) Conference honors. Sophomore Ali Nagy was selected as the Player of the Week after scoring the tying goal in the overtime win against New Haven, and the only two goals in the loss against No. 7 Millersville. Sophomore Francesca Manzella picked up Defensive Player of the Week, while goalkeeper Mirthe Karstens was dubbed Rookie of the Week.

West Chester has won all four previous matchups, the most recent being a 4-1 victory in 2021.

DIII: No. 12 Amherst vs. No. 4 Tufts | 12:00 p.m. ET | NSN

The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) continues their early-season conference play, as No. 12 Amherst (2-1) takes on No. 4 Tufts (3-0) this Saturday.

The Mammoths fell in their first conference game against defending champion and top-ranked Middlebury, 3-1. Despite the score, Amherst looked strong in a back-and-forth contest that seemed at times to be in their favor. Muffie Mazambani, a dual-sport athlete who also is a part of Amherst’s track and field team, scored in each of the Mammoths’ games last week and twice against Keene State this week.

Another NESCAC powerhouse, the Jumbos are 3-0 on their season with a 1-0 record in conference. This will be the second game of a five-game road swing that features three more NESCAC opponents.

Amherst has not won this matchup since 2016, despite several one-goal losses since then — including a 1-0 heartbreaker last season.

DIII: Ohio Wesleyan vs. Depauw | 12:00 p.m. ET | Stretch Live

Ohio Wesleyan (4-0) hosts DePauw (2-2) on Saturday for the first of two regular season matchups.

After being selected as the co-favorite to win the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in the preseason poll, Ohio Wesleyan started their season off with a bang. The Battling Bishops have four victories, four shutouts and 31 goals – making their average goals scored just below eight at 7.75. It’s no wonder Allie Crawford was the recipient of last week’s NFHCA Division III Offensive Player of the Week award - the forward is netting nearly two goals per game.

The Tigers are off to a 2-2 start, dropping their first loss to Rhodes in a tight 1-0 double-overtime match. DePauw’s defense looked strong, holding the Lynx offense back for regulation despite being outshot 24-3. 

DePauw has dropped their last three competitions against OWU, most recently losing 3-0 last season. Although these teams both belong to the NCAC, this contest will not be included in conference play. The pair will meet in-conference on October 1st.

DIII: No. 11 The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) vs. N0. 10 Messiah | 1:00 p.m. ET | TCNJ Webcast

No. 11 TCNJ (3-1) will host No. 10 Messiah (3-2) on Saturday afternoon in Ewing, N.J. 

The Lions look to bounce back after a 2-1 overtime loss to Cabrini earlier this week. They started off the season with three shutout victories - with 12 goals coming from eight different contributors.

The Falcons began their campaign with three-straight matches against Centennial Conference challengers. They were able to shun both Dickinson and Franklin and Marshall, but could not overpower the offensive prowess of No. 2 Johns Hopkins. 

Saturday’s contest will be the 23rd meeting between the two teams. Most recently, the Falcons saw a close 2-1 victory in 2021. In 2019, it was the Lions who were able to secure a 3-1 win.

Sunday, September 18, 2022

DI: No. 8 Princeton vs. No. 1 Northwestern | 12:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+ ($)

No. 8 Princeton (2-2) looks to topple No. 1 Northwestern (6-0) in a home match in Princeton, N.J. this Sunday.

Northwestern has been unstoppable, going 6-0 against all ranked opponents, with no signs of slowing down. The Wildcats stars from their title-winning season continue to dominate. Bente Baekers currently holds the top spot in Division I for both points per game (4.33) and goals per game (2), while goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz stands at third in goals against average (0.67). Baekers was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for her second time this season, in addition to being honored as the NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week. 

To take on the Wildcats, Princeton will need to bring their A-game. The Tigers started off with losses to two ranked opponents, No. 2 North Carolina and No. 9 Louisville, losing by a single goal each time. They rebounded with two strong wins over No. 7 Syracuse and No. 15 Rutgers. Princeton will need top performances from their defensive line on Sunday, including reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week goalkeeper Robyn Thompson.

Princeton and Northwestern have met just once before: the Tigers defeated Northwestern, 5-1, all the way back in 1981.

DI: Drexel vs. Pennsylvania | 12:00 p.m. ET | FloLive ($)

A nearly 50-year-old Philadelphia rivalry takes place this Sunday with Drexel (2-3) hosting the Pennsylvania (0-4). 

The Dragons picked up their first win of the season in a thrilling shootout victory against Appalachian State, then got their second in a 3-1 match against Fairfield. Drexel then lost to Yale 2-1 in a match that they dominated in the stat book - earning 18 penalty corners and outshooting the Bulldogs 26-4 - but failed to find a late equalizer. The Dragons returned both leading goalscorers from last season, junior Eline Di Leva and fifth-year Avery Powell. 

Penn stacked their early season schedule, making for a tough 0-4 start to their 2022 campaign. Most recently, the Quakers dropped a 2-1 shootout loss to No. 20 Boston College and a 2-1 overtime loss to Villanova. Despite their record, Penn has looked strong against highly skilled opponents. The Quaker defense is anchored by fifth-year captain Gracyn Banks, who earned bronze with USA Field Hockey at the Junior Pam American Championship last summer.

The Quakers will make the two-mile journey to Buckley Field to take on the Dragons for the nineteenth time. Penn is on a six-game win streak against Drexel and won the 2021 matchup, 5-3.

DII: St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Bloomsburg | 1:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats

St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1) welcomes Bloomsburg (2-2) to Spartan Field on Sunday afternoon.

There are several similarities in these two teams as they prepare for Sunday’s contest. St. Thomas Aquinas is coming off of a 3-0 win against American International, in which freshman Kelly Johnson tallied two goals. Bloomsburg also most recently had a 3-0 victory, shutting out New Haven in their home opener. Both teams are currently split on their seasons – the Spartans at 1-1 and the Huskies at 2-2. Before battling it out with each other, each team will play a tough matchup on Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas against Lindenwood and Bloomsburg against Pace.

This will be the first game between the Spartans and Huskies.

DIII: No. 18 Christopher Newport vs. No. 14 Washington & Lee | 1:00 p.m. ET | CNU All-Access

No. 18 Christopher Newport (4-1) hosts No. 14 Washington and Lee (3-1) in their fourth straight home game. 

The Captains have had several high-margin wins this season, including a recent 9-1 victory over Concordia. Senior Emma Logue picked up the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week after a breakout performance. Their match with Washington and Lee will be their first challenge against a ranked opponent this season.

The Generals are 3-1 on their season thus far, losing only to No. 3 Johns Hopkins, 5-2. All three wins have been shutouts, with the entirety of the 27-player roster seeing the field in their 5-0 victory against Sweet Briar.

Although CNU holds a majority of wins over Washington and Lee, the most recent meeting in 2021 was a 5-4 victory for the Generals.

DIII: Mary Washington vs. Bryn Mawr | 1:00 p.m. ET | UWM Network

Bryn Mawr (4-1) clashes with Mary Washington (3-1) on a weekend trip to Virginia.

The Owls had a strong 3-0 start to their season before falling to York, 5-0, last Saturday. The team faces an exceptionally tough weekend ahead, playing No. 18 Christopher Newport on Saturday and then Mary Washington on Sunday. Bryn Mawr has been on the up-and-up in recent years under the guidance of head coach Victor Brady.

Similarly, the Eagles also began their campaign 3-0. Junior Emma Bernard currently sits at the top spot in Division III for most points per game at 5.33. Bernard assisted the tying goal and scored the overtime winner in Mary Washington’s recent victory against Rhodes.

Monday, September 19, 2022

DIII: Shenandoah vs. Wilson | 7:00 p.m. ET | Hornets Sports

Wilson (2-1) will make the trip to Virginia to play undefeated Shenandoah (5-0) on Monday.

The Phoenix look to make up for a 2-1 overtime loss to McDaniel with a win against a challenging opponent. The game before, in an 11-0 victory over Wells, freshman Paige Ney topped off a hat trick with a fourth goal and an assist and clinched the honor of Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Offensive Player of the Week.

The Hornets stand 5-0 on their season, outscoring opponents by a decisive 31-4 margin. Their powerful forward line includes sophomore Mairead McKibbin, who leads Division III in goals per game (2.50), and was selected as the ODAC Player of the Week in consecutive weeks.

The two teams are finally meeting again after a nine-year hiatus. The last matchup was a 7-0 victory by Shenandoah in 2013. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

DII: Mercy vs. Molloy | 4:00 p.m. ET | NE10 NOW

Mercy gets a start to their 2022 season as they host Molloy (1-0) on Tuesday evening.

The Mavericks will look to repeat how they started 2021, when they defeated Molloy 1-0. They went on to finish the year 4-13 — with half of their victories being attributed to wins against the Lions.

After a disappointing winless season last year under new head coach Catherine Brudi, Molloy started off this fall on a different foot as they earned a 3-2 victory over Southern Connecticut State. Sophomore Devin Harkins tallied two goals to propel the Lions to their first victory since 2019.

The pair first met in 2016 when Molloy had just started up its program. In their nine contests so far, the Lions defeated the Mavericks just once back in one of their three 2018 meetings.

DIII: Connecticut College vs. Smith | 7:00 p.m. ET | NSN

Connecticut College (1-2) will host long-time rival Smith (2-3) in a Tuesday night contest.

The Camels opened their fall testing their strength against two highly skilled top-ten opponents. Despite scoring in each, they were unable to overcome No. 7 Babson and No. 4 Tufts. Connecticut College secured their first win in a 5-4 overtime thriller against Western New England on Tuesday. Eager to make her mark early in her career, freshman Bridget McGann tallied three goals, including the tying goal in regulation and the golden goal in overtime.

Already five games into their season, the Pioneers stand at 2-3 going into this weekend. Smith swept the Caryl Newhof Classic - defeating Westfield State, 3-2, and Nichols, 6-0. For her 17 saves in the Classic, sophomore goalkeeper Rory Harper was recognized as the tournament MVP.

A storied history stands between the two teams, with their earliest game being recorded in 1976. Connecticut College claims 22 victories to Smith’s 10, most recently winning in 2021 in a 5-0 shutout.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

DIII: Elizabethtown vs. Eastern | 4:30 p.m. ET | Live Stats

Elizabethtown (3-2) has a third straight home match as they host Eastern (1-4) on Wednesday evening at Wolf Field.

Elizabethtown currently sits 3-2 on their season, including a recent 3-2 overtime victory over Haverford. Junior defender Chloe Smith not only had an impact in the backfield, but scored all three goals to propel the Blue Jays to victory. Two of Smith’s three goals came on penalty strokes.

The Eagles look to snap a four-game cold streak with their upcoming Saturday game against Alvernia. Recently, Eastern fell by just one goal to Gwynedd Mercy,  unable to convert despite going shot-for-shot (10-10) with the Griffins.

In overall meetings, Elizabethtown and Eastern are tied up at 4-4. The Blue Jays are currently on a three-game win streak, most recently coming away with a 4-2 victory in 2021.

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Division I rankings based off of the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Week 2 (posted September 13, 2022)
Division II rankings based off of the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II National Coaches Week 1 (posted September 13, 2022)
Division III rankings based off of the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Week 1 (posted September 13, 2022)

Photo Credit: Endicott Athletics, Lock Haven Athletics/Chris Valdez, Coker Athletics, Ohio Wesleyan Athletics/Paul Vernon, Drexel Athletics/Sideline Photos, CNU Athletics/Brandon Berry, Shenandoah Athletics/David Sinclair, Elizabethtown Athletics/Wyatt Eaton