Field Hockey to Host First Round of NCAA Playoffs
The Assumption Greyhounds field hockey team is set to begin play in their fifth-straight NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship tournament on Saturday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Brian Kelly ’83 Stadium. The Greyhounds will face off against Saint Anselm, who they defeated in a shutout last weekend to capture their second NE10 Championship in program history.
“It is wonderful to achieve our goals,” head coach Annie Lahey said. “But we are very much focused on the task at hand, which is facing a very tough St. A’s squad for the 3rd time in as many weeks.”
The Greyhounds, who were announced as the NCAA tournament’s No. 2 seed, find a familiar postseason opponent in the Hawks of Saint Anselm (No. 7 seed) – with this being the third-consecutive season that the two programs have met in the first round of the NCAA playoffs and the fifth such meeting since 2018. The Greyhounds have won each of the last two meetings in the NCAA tournament by a score of 2-1.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Greyhounds’ 2024 season has been a dominant one, winning 18 out of their 21 games, their highest win total since the record-setting 2021 campaign. They enter the first round of the NCAA playoffs on a 16-game winning streak that includes triumphs over multiple nationally ranked programs.
“We have been taking every game seriously,” said Lahey. “Prepping for each opponent, dissecting their strengths and weaknesses.”
Seven Greyhounds were named all-conference selections this season, including Callie Beauparlant ‘25, the Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Greyhounds led the nation with 11 shutouts this season. Mia Salah ’25 joined Beauparlant on the NE10 first team after leading the Greyhounds in goals, assists, points, and game-winning goals in the regular season.
Additionally, Elle Murray ’26, third on the team in goals and second in assists, and goalie Paige Gillette ’25, who ranks fourth in the nation in goals against average, earned All-NE10 Second team honors. Julia Carbone ‘27 and Jillian McSorley ’28 landed on the All-NE10 Third team. Carbone is the second leading scorer on the team with 10 goals, 5 assists, 25 points, and 5 game winning goals. McSorley has been a great asset to the defense for the Greyhounds’ this season, as she is one of the leading players in the third-ranked defense in the nation. Nova Rijks ’28 also had an impressive start as a first year, earning her a place on the All-Rookie team.
GAME PREVIEW
The Greyhounds enter the field of eight having faced Saint Anselm 39 times over the program’s history. Saint Anselm leads the all-time series 20-19, but the Greyhounds have faced Saint Anselm twice this season and have been victors in both games.
A trip to the NCAA Division II semifinals in Gaffney, SC is on the line, with the winner set to face the winner of No. 3 East Stroudsburg and No. 6 Bloomburg.
Saint Anselm enters the playoff matchup ranked in the top five in the nation in goals per game (3.14), but have yet to score a goal this season against a stout Greyhounds defense that has allowed the third-least goals in the country (18). The Greyhounds also boast a dangerous team offense that ranks in the nation’s top ten in goals per game (2.57) behind Division II’s fourth-highest assists per game (2.33).
With the Greyhounds having fought all season to make Assumption known in the world of field hockey, and Saint Anselm looking to get revenge for the NE10 championship loss, this game should be one for the history books.
Come out to Brian Kelly ’83 stadium at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16 to support the Greyhounds or watch live on FloSports. A full preview of the game can be found here.