Field Hockey Courtesy of Boston University Athletics Communications

Terriers to Play Fairfield in NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Opening Round

Courtesy of Boston University Athletics Communications

NCAA Interactive Bracket

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After capturing its fifth Patriot League title and 13th conference championship in program history on Saturday (Nov. 8), the Boston University field hockey program will head to Princeton, New Jersey to take on the Fairfield Stags in an opening round game on Wednesday (Nov. 12) at 2 p.m., the NCAA announced Sunday night.

Wednesday's contest will stream live on ESPN+.

BU is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Wednesday's game will mark the Terriers' 15th appearance in the tournament.

The Terriers own an 8-16 record in the NCAA Tournament since their first game in 1985. BU is 2-0 against Fairfield all-time in the tournament. BU also has wins over Iowa, Central Michigan, Rider, Harvard, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the tournament.

BU earned the Patriot League's automatic qualifier following a 3-2 win over Lafayette in the championship game. Senior Caroline O'Brien was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after scoring the league's first-ever hat trick in the title game. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by senior Megan Wetzel, senior Martu Coulo and freshman Delfi Coulo.

The Terriers defeated Colgate, 3-2, in overtime on Saturday, Nov. 1 to earn a spot in the Patriot League tournament as the fourth seed. BU then toppled American, the top seed in the tournament, 1-0, off a goal from junior Nicole Lauro on Thursday (Nov. 6) to advance to the Patriot League title game for the first time as the No. 4 seed.

Following the opening round, the winning team will take on the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament, Princeton.  

The Stags (15-5, 9-0 NEC) won the NEC Tournament without giving up a goal, taking down Rider, 2-0, in the semifinal and Wagner, 3-0, in the championship game. They are one of the top scoring teams in the NCAA, ranking fourth in goals per game (3.74) and average 8.95 penalty corners per game, also fourth in the NCAA. Fairfield played two Patriot League opponents this season, falling 0-2 to Lafayette on Aug. 29 and defeating Lehigh, 5-0, on Sept. 7.

The Terriers and Stags have met 10 times in their history, with BU winning all 10 matchups. The teams last met in the NCAA Tournament Opening Round in 2017, with BU winning 5-0 at New Balance Field.