The Bellarmine University field hockey program is set to kick off its 2026 campaign with a pair of much‑anticipated contests in Columbus, Ohio, where the team will meet Old Dominion and Ohio State for the first time. The matches mark the inaugural meetings between Bellarmine and each opponent and will be played at Buckeye Varsity Field, with Saturday’s game against Old Dominion slated for 3 p.m. and Sunday’s showdown with Ohio State scheduled for 1 p.m.
Returning firepower
Bellarmine enters the season with a core group of returning players who could provide the spark needed to move beyond a 2‑16 overall record and a 2‑7 mark in the Mid‑Atlantic Conference. Sophomore midfielder/defender Amy Stripling joins after earning Atlantic 10 All‑Rookie honors at Richmond, where she contributed five goals and an assist in 17 appearances. Luna Tuncay, also a sophomore, has been named to the NFHCA Division I Preseason Watchlist, representing two of the fourteen MAC selections.
Opponent outlook
Old Dominion will be led by coach Andrew Griffiths, who returns 15 players from the previous season, including eight starters, and has assembled a roster bolstered by seven newcomers. The program, which finished third in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after reaching the conference tournament semifinals in 2025, brings a blend of experience and fresh talent under Griffiths, whose career record stands at 139‑96.
Ohio State, in its 56th season of field hockey, returns 16 letterwinners and welcomes ten newcomers. Under the guidance of Jarred Martin, who posted a 92‑75 record and guided the Buckeyes to an 8‑10 overall finish with a 3‑5 mark in Big Ten play, the team aims to leverage its depth as it prepares for its first encounter with Bellarmine.
Home field advantage
Bellarmine’s schedule features 18 regular‑season games, nine of which will be played within the Mid‑Atlantic Conference and six at Trager Stadium, the team’s home venue. The Columbus road trip provides an early test against two programs that have shown strong preseason momentum, offering the Knights a chance to gauge their progress in a competitive environment.