Cortland to Host Stevens in NCAA Field Hockey First Round Wednesday
Cortland Sports Information Department
The Cortland field hockey team will play in its third straight NCAA Division III tournament and its 31st overall when the Red Dragons host Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) in a first-round contest on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Cortland (17-1) repeated as the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament champion after defeating New Paltz, 2-1, in the conference finals Saturday at Cortland. Stevens (17-2) earned an NCAA automatic bid after defeating DeSales, 1-0, at home Saturday in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom championship game.
The Cortland-Stevens winner will advance to face Messiah University in the second round on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. as part of a four-team regional hosted by Messiah. Saturday's other second-round game will feature five-time defending national champion Middlebury against the winner of Wednesday's first round game between William Smith and Susquehanna. Sunday's regional champion advances to the national semifinals and finals Nov. 17 and 19 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.
Cortland, led by eighth-year head coach Tiffany Hubbard, has suffered only one setback this season - a 3-2 overtime decision at Rochester on Oct. 3. The Red Dragons have outscored their opponents, 77-12, and bring a nine-game winning streak into nationals. Cortland's 17 wins are its highest total since an 18-4 campaign in 2017.
Cortland won national titles in 1993, 1994 and 2001 and finished second in 1997. The Red Dragons tied for third in 1999 and 2003, placed third in both 1989 and 1996 and were fourth in 1988. In their most recent appearance last season, Cortland fell at MIT, 4-1, in the first round.
Junior Gianna Trunfio (Clinton) leads Cortland with 40 points on a team-high 19 goals along with two assists. Junior Keirra Ettere (Mahopac/Lakeland) has recorded 14 goals and eight assists for 36 points and junior Jamie Snyder (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) has 10 goals and eight assists for 28 points. Junior Sydney Reinisch (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) has added eight goals and six assists for 22 points and junior Hanna Corrigan (Barneveld/Holland Patent) has nine goals and three assists for 21 points Sophomore goalie Emma Morgan (Whitney Point) has posted a 0.68 GAA, an .824 save percentage and eight solo shutouts in 18 starts.
