After the most successful regular season in school history, the University of Rochester field hockey team was selected to continue the 2018 campaign by being an at-large selection into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
The Yellowjackets (18-2) received one of just five pool C (at-large) berths into the tournament, and received a bye into the second round.  Rochester will play at Rowan University against the winner of a first round matchup between Franklin & Marshall College and Gwynedd Mercy University.  Game time is slated for 2 pm on Saturday November 10th.
 
Franklin & Marshall also was a pool C selection, while Gwynedd Mercy was one of two pool B choices into the 24-team tournament.  Pool B selections are for independent teams or members from conferences which do not qualify for an automatic berth.  UR has never played either of those two schools in field hockey before.
 
This season, Rochester embarked on a school record 14-game winning streak to start the season and only lost twice, once in the regular season and once in the Liberty League championship, both to conference rival Vassar College who also received a first round bye in the tournament.  The berth into NCAA's is Rochester's fourth straight and fifth overall in school history, all coming in the last seven years.  It is the second straight season UR has earned a first round bye.
 
UR, ranked #8 in the latest NFHCA Division III Coaches Poll, is led offensively this season by senior co-captain Nancy Bansbach who posted a career-high 43 points, coming on 19 goals and 5 assists in starting all 20 games for the Yellowjackets.  First-Year Amanda Strenk also has started every game and is second on the squad with 22 points (9 G, 4 A), while juniors Emma Schlechter and Coleen Maillie both are tied for third with 16 points each.
 
The defensive unit is led by a trio of seniors in Miranda Lakis, Courtney Dunham and Kate Tiffany, all of whom are contributing to Rochester ranking 6th in NCAA Division III, surrendering just 0.54 goals per game this season.  Tiffany has seven defensive saves on the year and Dunham has five, both of which are career highs.
 
Junior Kate Kujawa has started every game in goal this season and has allowed only 11 goals in 20 games, posting an 18-2 record with a 0.56 goals against average and .836 save percentage.  Her ten solo shutouts are also a school record.
 
10th-ranked Franklin & Marshall earned its berth into the NCAA Tournament after falling in a shootout in the championship game of the Centennial Conference Tournament to Johns Hopkins University.  The Diplomats boast a 16-3 record this season and are making their fifth straight appearance and 12th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Diplomats offensive leaders are junior Erin Coverdale with 41 points (18 G, 5 A), sophomore Lily Mynott with 23 points (11 G, 1 A) and junior Melissa Gula with 14 points (4 G, 6 A).  In goal, F&M's Ilianna Santangelo has started all 19 games as a senior and has a 0.48 GAA and .862 save percentage, with 10 clean sheets.
 
Gwynedd Mercy has posted a 13-6 mark this season and are making their seventh overall NCAA Division III Tournament appearance and second straight.  The Griffins lost in the Atlantic East Conference Tournament championship game to Wesley College, but their body of work throughout the season earned them the selection into nationals.
 
On the field, GMU is paced offensively by Lauren Jani and Shannon Carroll who each have 15 points on the year.  Jani has seven goals and one assist while Carroll had four goals and seven assists.  Right behind that duo is Kathyn Lehman who's four goals and six assists (14 points) ranks her third on the team.  In goal, Sarah Crane and Abi Kennedy have split time for the Griffins.  Crane has a 0.66 GAA, .724 save percentage and 8-2 record while Kennedy has a 5-4 record, 1.42 GAA and .706 save percentage.
 
The other half of the regional features 20-0 and #3 ranked Rowan University.  The Profs defeated TCNJ 2-0 to capture the NJAC conference title on Saturday afternoon to remain unbeaten.  Rowan will play either Lynchburg College or Denison University in the opening game at the regional on Saturday, with push back set for 11 am.
 
Denison (NCAC) and Lynchburg (ODAC) each won their respective conference tournaments and qualified automatically into the field.  Lynchburg will host Wednesday's first round contest.