Field Hockey Championship Field Announced
Middlebury Finishes Undefeated to Earn Tournament Top Seed
HADLEY, Mass. — Middlebury College finished regular season conference play undefeated and earned the top seed and a first round bye in the 2004 NESCAC Field Hockey Championship. The Panthers (9-0 NESCAC, 14-0 overall), who have not lost a conference game in two years, will host the semifinals and finals on Saturday-Sunday, November 6-7.
First round games will begin Sunday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m. at the higher seeded institution. Bowdoin (6-3 NESCAC, 10-4 overall) will host seventh seeded Colby (3-6 NESCAC, 8-6 overall). Colby defeated the Polar Bears 1-0 earlier this season in Waterville, Maine.
Williams (6-3 NESCAC, 11-3 overall) will be the third seed and will host sixth seed Trinity (3-6 NESCAC, 7-7 overall). Trinity dropped a 3-0 decision to the Ephs when the two teams met in October in Williamstown, Mass.
Fifth seed Tufts (5-4 NESCAC, 9-5 overall) will travel to fourth seed Wesleyan (6-3 NESCAC, 11-3 overall) in other first round action. Wesleyan lost 2-1 overtime decision to the Jumbos last week in Medford, Mass.
The top seven teams qualify for the NESCAC Championship. Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical records. First round games will be played on Sunday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m. First round winners will advance to the semifinals at Middlebury on Saturday, November 6. Teams are rebracketed entering the semifinal round with number one seed Middlebury playing the lowest remaining seed. The NESCAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.
2004 NESCAC FIELD HOCKEY
CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Oct. 31 at Higher Seeds
No. 7 Colby at No. 2 Bowdoin - 1:00 p.m.
No. 6 Trinity at No. 3 Williams - 1:00 p.m.
No. 5 Tufts at No. 4 Wesleyan - 1:00 p.m.
Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 6 at Middlebury
No. 1 Middlebury vs. lowest remaining seed - 11:00 a.m.
Remaining first round winners - 1:30 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, Nov. 7 at Middlebury
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m.
