Ncaa Division Ii Field Hockey Championship
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship is an annual tournament that crowns the top field hockey team in NCAA Division II. The tournament is a single-elimination bracket-style competition that features eight teams from across the country. The championship game is held in November, and the winning team is awarded the NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championship trophy.
History of NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship was first held in 1981, and the Northeastern State RiverHawks claimed the inaugural title by beating Bloomsburg University 2-1 in the championship game. Since then, a total of 28 teams have won the NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championship.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors hold the record for the most NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championships, having won a total of six titles between 1987 and 2014. The Shippensburg Raiders and Bloomsburg Huskies are tied for second place, with five championships each.
Qualifying for the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship
To qualify for the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, teams must first win their respective conference tournaments. The winners of each conference tournament receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, while the remaining four spots in the tournament are filled by at-large teams selected by the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Committee.
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Committee uses a number of factors to select the at-large teams, including overall record, head-to-head results, strength of schedule, and key wins against other highly-ranked teams. The committee also takes into account the regionality of the teams, in order to create geographically-balanced brackets.
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship Format
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship is a single-elimination tournament that features eight teams. The teams are seeded based on their overall record and strength of schedule, with the top seed facing the eighth seed, the second seed facing the seventh seed, and so on.
The tournament is divided into two rounds, with four games played in the quarterfinals and two games played in the semifinals. The winners of the semifinal games advance to the championship game, which is held at a neutral site predetermined by the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Committee.
Recent NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship Winners
The most recent NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championship was held in 2019, when the West Chester Golden Rams defeated the Saint Anselm Hawks 2-1 in the championship game. The Golden Rams' victory marked their second NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championship, having previously won the title in 2018.
Other recent NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Champions include:
- 2018: West Chester Golden Rams
- 2017: Shippensburg Raiders
- 2016: Shippensburg Raiders
- 2015: Bloomsburg Huskies
- 2014: East Stroudsburg Warriors
Conclusion
The NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship is a highly-competitive tournament that brings together the top field hockey teams from across the country. With a rich history and a rigorous qualifying process, the championship is a true test of skill and determination for the participating teams.
If you're a fan of field hockey, be sure to tune in to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship this fall and see which team will hoist the NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championship trophy!
