Quinnipiac Field Hockey To Join BIG EAST Conference In 2016
12/8/2015 10:44:00 AM | Field Hockey
NEW YORK, New York – Quinnipiac University field hockey has accepted an invitation to join the BIG EAST Conference, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Quinnipiac and Liberty University will be affiliate members in field hockey, only, effective July 1, 2016.
"Quinnipiac is excited to join the BIG EAST in field hockey in 2016," director of athletics Greg Amodio said. "Becca Main has done a great job in developing a top-notch field hockey program and this is the next logical step in its progression on a national scale. I want to thank the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for its sponsorship of field hockey over the last three years and wish all in the conference the best of luck for years to come."
BIG EAST field hockey currently consists of six teams sponsored by Georgetown, Old Dominion, Providence, Temple, UConn and Villanova. The league's membership voted unanimously to add Quinnipiac and Liberty to expand to eight for competition next year.
"We're very pleased to be able to add Liberty and Quinnipiac to our field hockey lineup for 2016," said BIG EAST Associate Commissioner for Olympic Sports Chris Schneider. "These additions will make BIG EAST field hockey stronger. Both schools have proven records of success and are committed to excellence in the sport."
Quinnipiac will enter its 19th season of NCAA Division I competition in 2016-17. Quinnipiac entered the Division I ranks in 1998 in the Northeast Conference before joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013. Head coach Becca Main's Bobcats were the first program to win the newly-formed MAAC Field Hockey Tournament Championship in 2013 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history. This past season, Quinnipiac won its second regular-season championship in its three years as members of the MAAC.
"This venture began several years ago with Jack McDonald, who made the calls and opened the doors for Quinnipiac to move to the BIG EAST, and was brought to completion recently by Greg Amodio," Main said.
Main's program has continued to ascend to new heights and has found itself with the likes of Quinnipiac basketball and ice hockey as a recently upgraded Sport of Emphasis at the university. The new Tier 1 upgrade to sport of emphasis promises a new premier playing field and additional support for the program.
"This is the next step of continued growth for our program," Main said. "We're confident that the move to the BIG EAST and the completion of our new facility for 2017 will help Quinnipiac field hockey become a nationally-recognized program. I want to thank the MAAC and Commissioner Rich Ensor for sponsoring field hockey at the start of Quinnipiac's membership in the conference. The MAAC cultivated a competitive environment that has aided all of its members in playing at a higher level."
Quinnipiac's first BIG EAST game will be against Georgetown on Sept. 17 at home. Quinnipiac will also host Providence on Saturday, Oct. 8, Old Dominion on Saturday, Oct. 15 and UConn on Friday, Oct. 28. The Bobcats will also play at Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 24, Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Temple on Friday, Oct. 21.
"I would like to thank BIG EAST associate commissioner Chris Schneider as well as the BIG EAST membership who supported Quinnipiac joining the conference," Main said. "We're excited to start competition in one of the top-ranked conferences in NCAA Division I field hockey."
The BIG EAST has enjoyed tremendous field hockey success. This past season, Connecticut, the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion, reached the NCAA national semifinals. The Huskies were the NCAA champions in 2013 and 2014.
At least two BIG EAST teams have been ranked in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll for all but one week over the last two seasons. BIG EAST field hockey has produced 20 Longstreth/NFHCA All-Americans over the last three years.
"Quinnipiac is excited to join the BIG EAST in field hockey in 2016," director of athletics Greg Amodio said. "Becca Main has done a great job in developing a top-notch field hockey program and this is the next logical step in its progression on a national scale. I want to thank the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for its sponsorship of field hockey over the last three years and wish all in the conference the best of luck for years to come."
BIG EAST field hockey currently consists of six teams sponsored by Georgetown, Old Dominion, Providence, Temple, UConn and Villanova. The league's membership voted unanimously to add Quinnipiac and Liberty to expand to eight for competition next year.
"We're very pleased to be able to add Liberty and Quinnipiac to our field hockey lineup for 2016," said BIG EAST Associate Commissioner for Olympic Sports Chris Schneider. "These additions will make BIG EAST field hockey stronger. Both schools have proven records of success and are committed to excellence in the sport."
Quinnipiac will enter its 19th season of NCAA Division I competition in 2016-17. Quinnipiac entered the Division I ranks in 1998 in the Northeast Conference before joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013. Head coach Becca Main's Bobcats were the first program to win the newly-formed MAAC Field Hockey Tournament Championship in 2013 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history. This past season, Quinnipiac won its second regular-season championship in its three years as members of the MAAC.
"This venture began several years ago with Jack McDonald, who made the calls and opened the doors for Quinnipiac to move to the BIG EAST, and was brought to completion recently by Greg Amodio," Main said.
Main's program has continued to ascend to new heights and has found itself with the likes of Quinnipiac basketball and ice hockey as a recently upgraded Sport of Emphasis at the university. The new Tier 1 upgrade to sport of emphasis promises a new premier playing field and additional support for the program.
"This is the next step of continued growth for our program," Main said. "We're confident that the move to the BIG EAST and the completion of our new facility for 2017 will help Quinnipiac field hockey become a nationally-recognized program. I want to thank the MAAC and Commissioner Rich Ensor for sponsoring field hockey at the start of Quinnipiac's membership in the conference. The MAAC cultivated a competitive environment that has aided all of its members in playing at a higher level."
Quinnipiac's first BIG EAST game will be against Georgetown on Sept. 17 at home. Quinnipiac will also host Providence on Saturday, Oct. 8, Old Dominion on Saturday, Oct. 15 and UConn on Friday, Oct. 28. The Bobcats will also play at Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 24, Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Temple on Friday, Oct. 21.
"I would like to thank BIG EAST associate commissioner Chris Schneider as well as the BIG EAST membership who supported Quinnipiac joining the conference," Main said. "We're excited to start competition in one of the top-ranked conferences in NCAA Division I field hockey."
The BIG EAST has enjoyed tremendous field hockey success. This past season, Connecticut, the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion, reached the NCAA national semifinals. The Huskies were the NCAA champions in 2013 and 2014.
At least two BIG EAST teams have been ranked in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll for all but one week over the last two seasons. BIG EAST field hockey has produced 20 Longstreth/NFHCA All-Americans over the last three years.
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