PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Saint Joseph’s University field hockey team has advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The Hawks will take on the premier program in college field hockey, North Carolina, in the national semifinals on Friday at noon in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Hawks are 19-3 and champions of the Atlantic 10. To earn this spot in the Final Four, the Hawks defeated Lafayette and Princeton in their first two games in the tournament.
The Hawks have been one of the nation’s top programs for years, but this is their first appearance in the Final Four. Head coach Hannah Prince credited longtime players with helping the team break through.
“Our fifth-year seniors who chose to come back and wear the Saint Joe’s uniform for their COVID year are the difference-makers for us,” she said. “That group is just so dedicated and just really loves this program. And they’re talented, so that doesn’t hurt either.”
North Carolina is the two-time defending national champ. In fact, the Tar Heels have won five of the last six national titles, and they bring a 20-0 record into Friday’s match.