NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – VCU went a perfect 6-0 in conference play to win the Atlantic 10 regular season title and the South Division. The Rams will serve as the host and No. 1 seed for the 2020-21 A-10 Field Hockey Championship, which begins Friday at VCU's Cary Street Field.
Lock Haven won the North Division with a 4-1 A-10 record and will be seeded second for the Championship. Saint Joseph's finished 3-1 in conference play to capture the second spot in the North Division and is the No. 3 seed. Richmond went 4-2 in the A-10 and claims the fourth seed in the championship, the second berth of the South Division.
The Rams went undefeated this season, finishing 7-0 overall. Offensively, VCU is led by Janne Wetzel (4 goals, 3 assists) and Bridget McCormmick (5 goals) and the team's scoring margin (1.87) ranks seventh nationally. In the cage, Sasha Elliott has a league-best .688 goals against average over seven games, recording three blank sheets on the season. Elliott's .815 save percentage also ranks 12th nationally. For the first time in program history, VCU was ranked in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll, checking in at No. 19.
VCU will open the championship against cross-town rival Richmond in the first semifinal Friday, April 23 at 11:00 am ET. Richmond defeated Davidson, 2-1 on the final day of the regular season to clinch the final spot in the four-team Championship. Steffie Bongers scored both goals in the victory, her fifth and sixth on the season, which leads the Spiders. Olivia Frazier registered the assist on both scores, and leads the team with six helpers and 14 points.
No. 2 Lock Haven was 4-1 in the Atlantic 10 and was led by Amy Stevens and Martina Spangenberg, who each tallied two goals. The Bald Eagles won a pair of thrillers against ranked A-10 opponents this season, first, a double-overtime victory at No. 20 Massachusetts, then a shootout victory against No. 19 Saint Joseph's. Goalkeeper Joaquina Orlandini came up big in each of those games, and owns a .88 GAA over the five games.
Lock Haven will face third-seeded Saint Joseph's, which was 3-1 in league play and 4-2 overall, in the second semifinal Friday at 3:00 pm ET. The Hawks are led offensively by Anna Miller with 12 points on five goals and two assists, and Jordan Olenginski, who added four goals and two assists for 10 points.
The winners of the two semifinals will advance to meet in the championship final, which will be played Saturday, April 24 at 12:00 pm ET.
All three games of the A-10 Field Hockey Championship will be aired on ESPN+. For watch links, result, photos and more visit the Field Hockey Championship Central at atlantic10.com.