NEW YORK – UConn and Old Dominion begin NCAA Tournament play on Friday, Nov. 13, with both BIG EAST programs looking to advance to Sunday’s second round. The Huskies host Lafayette, while the Monarchs travel to Harvard for opening-round matchups.
No. 14 Lafayette vs. No. 4 UConn, 12 p.m. ET | ESPN+
No. 4 UConn opens NCAA Tournament play hosting No. 14 Lafayette College at George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn. The Huskies enter at 15-2 overall after finishing a perfect 6-0 in BIG EAST play, capturing their 21st regular-season conference title and earning the No. 4 overall seed for the third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. UConn is led by freshman forward Lucy Zich, the BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, who ranks second in the conference with 13 goals and 31 points. Senior goalkeeper Natalie McKenna, the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, leads the conference with a 0.70 goals-against average and seven shutouts while ranking second in saves (38) and save percentage (.745).
Lafayette enters at 17-2 overall after capturing its second Patriot League championship in three years with a 2-1 victory over Boston University. Both teams rank among the top four nationally in fewest goals allowed.
UConn holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series, outscoring Lafayette 14-1 across the three meetings. The Huskies won the most recent meeting, 8-0, on Sept. 20, 2015, in Storrs. They have averaged 4.70 goals per game in the series and enter Friday riding a three-game winning streak against the Leopards. The winner advances to Sunday’s second round to face either No. 5 Princeton or No. 10 Syracuse.
No. 16 Old Dominion vs. No. 3 Harvard, 12 p.m. ET | ESPN+
The 2026 BIG EAST Champions Old Dominion travels to Cambridge, Mass. to face No. 3 Harvard. The Monarchs enter at 15-4 after defeating No. 17 Liberty, 1-0, and No. 4 UConn, 2-1, to capture their second BIG EAST Tournament title and first since 2023. ODU is led by BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Serena Langendoen, who has recorded 17 goals and eight assists for 42 points, ranking first in the BIG EAST in goals and points. Langendoen also leads the conference in shots (93), shots on goal (49) and game-winning goals (six). Senior goalkeeper Suus Broers was named BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player after recording nine saves and allowing just one goal throughout the tournament. Broers has totaled 56 saves on the season, ranking third in the conference, while averaging 4.00 saves per game, fourth-best in the BIG EAST.
Harvard enters at 15-2 after finishing 7-0 in Ivy League play and earning its second consecutive conference regular-season title. Friday's matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs. The winner advances to Sunday’s second round to face either No. 12 Yale or No. 6 UMass.