New Haven to Sponsor Field Hockey, Chargers to Begin Competing in 2017

New Haven to Sponsor Field Hockey, Chargers to Begin Competing in 2017
Posted: Oct 28, 2016

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2016

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - New Haven Associate Vice President, Director of Athletics and Recreation Deborah Chin has announced the addition of field hockey as the 17th sport sponsored by the University with the first season of competition planned for the fall of 2017. 

"New Haven is committed to providing the most comprehensive educational and athletic opportunities available to our student-athletes," Chin said. "The addition of field hockey enhances our very competitive women's sport offerings and demonstrates the continued support the University has for athletics."

The Chargers will become the 14th field hockey member in the Northeast-10 Conference that currently features five of the top-10 teams in the nation and a representative in the national championship game in each of the last 17 years.

With a long standing history of women's athletics dating back to 1975, field hockey is the fourth women's program added at New Haven in the last 25 years, under the guidance of Chin. It follows women's soccer (1993), track and field (1996) and lacrosse (2001), which have each experienced success during their tenures.

There are currently 33 field hockey programs in NCAA Division II with six teams advancing to the NCAA postseason. A four-team first round concludes with two winners advancing to the national semifinals at a pre-determined site. After first round byes, the top two seeds join the winners of the first round matchups in the semifinals before a national champion is crowned.

A search will begin immediately with anticipation of hiring a coach in the coming months. The program's first official practices will be held during the non-championship season in spring 2017.