A rigorous 2026 slate
Saint Joseph's University has released its 2026 field hockey schedule, a slate that pits the Hawks against five of last year’s conference champions and seven opponents that earned NCAA Tournament berths in 2025. The non‑conference lineup features powerhouses such as New Hampshire, UConn, and North Carolina, underscoring the program’s intent to forge a championship‑caliber identity. The announcement also highlights the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championship and the November site of the NCAA Tournament in Louisville, setting the stage for a season that could extend deep into the postseason.
The campaign opens with exhibition matches against Monmouth and Delaware in August, before the regular season kicks off on August 28 with a home game against reigning America East champion New Hampshire. A quick turnaround follows with a neutral‑site contest against New Hampshire on August 29 and a visit from UConn on August 30. Early September brings a home game versus Big East champion Liberty on September 4 and a subsequent matchup with Drexel on September 6, a team the Hawks defeated 2‑0 in last year’s Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.
The road trip continues with contests at Lehigh and Maryland before the team opens Atlantic 10 play at Saint Louis. Additional non‑conference road games include a rematch with Richmond and a two‑game swing through North Carolina to meet Davidson and Duke. These early tests are designed to sharpen the squad’s depth and resilience as they prepare for the rigors of conference competition.
November’s championship chase
Later in the season, the Hawks will host Liberty on September 4 and face Drexel on September 6, then travel to take on Lehigh and Maryland before returning home to confront local rivals Lock Haven and Villanova in October. The schedule also includes a high‑profile visit from ACC champion North Carolina on October 9, a rematch with Richmond, and a two‑game stretch against Davidson and Duke in North Carolina. The regular season wraps up with a home game against La Salle on October 30, after which the team will have faced opponents from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big East, Ivy and Atlantic 10 conferences.
November brings the culmination of the year’s ambitions: the Atlantic 10 Championship is slated for November 5 and 7, and the NCAA Tournament will commence on November 11, with the Final Four and national championship games scheduled at Louisville’s Trager Stadium on November 20 and 22. Coach Sam Brown has emphasized that the demanding non‑conference slate is a deliberate strategy to build a program capable of contending for titles.