Ncaa Women's Field Hockey Champions
Field hockey, a game played for over 4,000 years, has been popular in many countries all over the world including the United States. It is a game of immense passion, speed, and strength, requiring players to have sharp reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. NCAA women's field hockey championship has been captivating sports fans in the United States for more than half a century. This article will take you on a journey through the history of NCAA women's field hockey champions.
1950s-1970s: The Beginning
NCAA women's field hockey championship began in 1981, but the history of women's field hockey in the United States dates back to the 1950s. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that colleges started to organize intercollegiate competitions. During this period, West Chester College and Immaculata College dominated the scene. West Chester College won six consecutive championships from 1975 to 1980 while Immaculata College won three consecutive championships from 1972 to 1974.
1980s-1990s: The Golden Era
The 1980s and 1990s are the golden era of NCAA women's field hockey championship. During these decades, Old Dominion University, University of Connecticut, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dominated the competition.
Old Dominion University won nine championships in the 1980s and early 1990s, setting a record for most consecutive championships won by any NCAA women's team in any sport. They won from 1982 to 1992, except for 1988 when they lost to University of Maryland in the championship final.
University of Connecticut won three championships in a row from 1981 to 1983, and then again from 1985 to 1987. They won their sixth championship in 2017.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill won six championships during this era, starting with their first win in 1989 and ending with their win in 1996. They won their seventh championship in 2018.
2000s-2010s: The Recent Years
The 2000s marked a change in the pattern of NCAA women's field hockey championship. While Old Dominion University won three championships during this decade, several other colleges started to dominate the competition. University of Maryland, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Virginia all won two championships each in this decade.
In the 2010s, University of Maryland cemented their position as one of the best NCAA women's field hockey teams by winning five championships from 2010 to 2018. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continued their legacy by winning two more championships in 2009 and 2018. Other colleges such as Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, and Princeton University have also won championships in this decade.
Conclusion
NCAA women's field hockey championship has a rich history that spans over half a century. From the early dominance of West Chester College and Immaculata College to the golden era of Old Dominion University, University of Connecticut, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to the recent years where University of Maryland has been the dominant team, this competition has seen some of the best women's field hockey teams in the United States competing at the highest level.
As fans anxiously wait for the next NCAA women's field hockey championship, we can only hope that new teams rise up to challenge the established order and create a more competitive and exciting atmosphere in the competition.
