Franklin & Marshall’s field hockey program has unveiled its 2026 schedule, a slate that builds on the momentum of a 15‑4 record and a semifinal run in the Centennial Conference Tournament last season.
A demanding non‑conference road
The Diplomats will open the season on the road at Susquehanna on September 1, then return home to face Elizabethtown on September 5 before hosting Messiah on September 9. A series of early away games at Montclair State and Alvernia follows, culminating in the first meeting with new conference rival Shenandoah on October 3 at SUNY Cortland.
Conference battles and historic rivalries
The Centennial Conference schedule features ten matchups, beginning with a trip to Haverford on September 26 and a home game against McDaniel on September 30. F&M will also travel to traditional powerhouses Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins, teams that proved tough opponents in 2025, splitting the season series with each.
The Diplomats enter the conference slate with confidence, having gone 6‑0 against all non‑conference opponents a year ago, including a 3‑2 victory over then‑#9 Messiah.
Championship weekend and NCAA prospects
The Centennial Conference Tournament opens on November 3, with semifinals on November 5 and the championship game on November 7. The top two seeds receive a first‑round bye, setting the stage for a potential showdown at William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., where the NCAA Tournament’s championship weekend will be held from November 20‑22.
A full preview of the 2026 campaign will be released as the season approaches, giving fans a deeper look at lineups, key players and strategic goals.