Multiple Scenarios
With two weeks left in the regular season before postseason play begins six conference teams are in line to snag one of the four available spots in the BIG EAST Championship. With a win over Georgetown this weekend, No. 1 Connecticut will clinch the top seed in the conference tournament and the regular-season crown. If Georgetown hands UConn its first loss of the season, the Huskies would still keep their edge to claim the top spot in the four-squad championship. However, the Friars (4-1) will have a chance to claim a share of the regular season. Behind Connecticut and Providence, Liberty and Quinnipiac are tied at 3-2 while Old Dominion and Temple are knotted at 2-3. Looking for separation, Temple and Providence will host Quinnipiac and Liberty, respectively, on Friday while Old Dominion will look to bounce back from a loss to the Owls with a clash against Villanova.
UConn on Top
The only unit that has already secured a postseason is the undefeated No.1 Connecticut Huskies. UConn clinched a spot in the 2016 BIG EAST Championship with 7-2 win over Liberty last weekend. Standing at 5-0 in BIG EAST play, the Huskies now set their sights on securing their fourth consecutive BIG EAST regular season title. With two games left in conference, the Huskies need a win over Georgetown or Quinnipiac to clinch the No.1 seed in the BIG EAST championship tournament and at least a share of the regular season crown.
BIG EAST Championship Info
The 2016 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship will be played on Howarth Field at the Temple Sports Complex with the semifinals on Nov. 4 and the title game on Nov. 6.The tournament champion receives the league’s automatic berth into the 16-team NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. All three of the matches in Philadelphia will stream live on the BEDN, the BIG EAST’s digital platform available on FOX Sports Go, the FOX Sports mobile application.
Rankings Recap
For the fourth-consecutive week, Connecticut maintained the top spot in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. UConn cruised to home wins over Liberty and Yale last week to improve to 15-0 for the season, and accumulated 892 points and 32 first-place votes to take the No. 1 spot in the ranking. The Huskies also lead BIG EAST teams in the national RPI at No. 3. They are followed by Old Dominion at 21, Liberty at 28, Providence at 32, Temple at 38, Quinnipiac at 64, Villanova at 65 and Georgetown at 68.
Sunday Top 20 Showdowns
Outside of conference play this weekend, three BIG EAST teams will match up against nationally ranked opponents on Sunday. National leader UConn kicks off the action with a noon matchup against No. 5 Maryland in College Park, Md. Providence and Liberty follow with a pair of matches at 1 p.m. The Friars welcome the 14th-ranked Boston College Eagles to Lennon Family Field while the Lady Flames host No. 4 North Carolina at the Liberty Field Hockey Field. As a conference, BIG EAST teams are 5-13 against nonconference nationally ranked opponents this season.
The Week Ahead
October
21 Fri. #1 UConn @ Georgetown * 1 p.m.
Quinnipiac @ Temple * 3 p.m.
Liberty @ Providence * 7 p.m.
Villanova @ Providence * 4 p.m.
22 Sat. Villanova @ Old Dominion 1 p.m.
23 Sun. #1 UConn @ # 5 Maryland Noon
#14 Boston College @ Providence 1p.m.
#4 North Carolina @ Liberty 1 p.m.
Towson @ Georgetown 1p.m.
All times Eastern
* Conference Game