#BIGEASTfh Minute: Weekend Features Four Top 25 Matchups
NEW YORK – After a successful opening weekend, BIG EAST Field Hockey continues with two teams ranked, a national player of the week and four contests against top 25 opponents over the Labor Day Weekend.
No. 1 Connecticut, Georgetown and Old Dominion put together perfect 2-0 records. No. 23 Liberty and Quinnipiac split the weekend at 1-1. Villanova, Temple and Providence head into the second weekend of play on the hunt for their first wins of the season.
Early Tests
Old Dominion will play against two ranked opponents this weekend, opening at No. 22 William & Mary on Friday night at 6 p.m. The Monarchs will then face No. 17 James Madison on Sunday in a noon contest. Also on Friday, Temple will host No. 6 Penn State. Top-ranked Connected has a top 5 matchup scheduled with Michigan for Sunday afternoon at home in Storrs.
Top 25 Matchups This Weekend
No. 6 Penn State at Temple (Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.)
Old Dominion at No. 22 William & Mary (Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.)
No. 17 James Madison at Old Dominion (Sept. 2 at 12 p.m.)
No. 5 Michigan at No. 1 Connecticut (Sept. 2 at 12 p.m.)
All of these rankings were based on the preseason poll, the first National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll will come out on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
National Recognition
Liberty’s Agueda Moroni was honored by the NFHCA as the first National Offensive Player of the Week of the season. Moroni is a Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year for the BIG EAST and also won the league’s first weekly awards of the season. Also earning national recognition was Connecticut newcomer Karo Kueskes. Kueskes earned honorable mention in the NFHCA Longstretch National Player of the Week release.
Upcoming #BIGEASTfh Schedule
Friday, Aug. 31
No. 23 LIBERTY at Kent State, 1 p.m.
Sacred Heart at GEORGETOWN, 1 p.m.
Indiana at VILLANOVA, 5 p.m.
Michigan State at No. 1 CONNECTICUT, 5 p.m.
QUINNIPIAC at Columbia, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Penn State at TEMPLE, 6 p.m.
OLD DOMINION at No. 22 William & Mary, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1
PROVIDENCE at Brown, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 2
No. 17 James Madison at OLD DOMINION, 12 p.m.
Lehigh at VILLANOVA, 12 p.m.
Fairfield at TEMPLE, 12 p.m.
Saint Francis at GEORGETOWN, 12 p.m.
Michigan State at QUINNIPIAC, 12 p.m.
No. 5 Michigan at No. 1 CONNECTICUT, 12 p.m.
Bryant at PROVIDENCE, 1 p.m.
No. 23 LIBERTY at Ohio, 1 p.m.
All times eastern.
BIG EAST teams in ALL CAPS