MEDFORD, MA (November 2, 2026) - For the second year in a row and fifth time overall, Tufts University will host the semifinal and championship rounds of the 2026 NESCAC Field Hockey Championship at Ounjian Field this weekend (November 7-8).
The top-seeded Jumbos earned hosting rights as the highest remaining seed after a 4-0 victory over eighth-seeded Colby College in the quarterfinals on October 31. In Saturday's first semifinal at 11:00 AM, Tufts will face fourth-seeded Williams College (11-5), which advanced with a 2-0 win over fifth-seeded Hamilton College. Second-seed Middlebury College (14-2) and third seed Bowdoin (13-3) will play in Saturday's second semifinal at 1:30 PM. The championship game will be played Sunday at Ounjian Field with a Noon start.
NESCAC Field Hockey Championship Weekend
Dates: Saturday-Sunday, November 7-8, 2026
Location: Medford, MA (Ounjian Field)
Free Admission
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
The Teams
Three of the top four teams in the NFHCA DIII rankings will be on site this weekend with #1 Tufts, #2 Middlebury and #4 Bowdoin. Williams isn't far back at #8.
Tufts enters the weekend 16-0 overall, tying the school record for the best start to a season set by the 2008 team. The Jumbos also completed the first 10-0 NESCAC regular season in program history, clinching it with a 1-0 win over Bowdoin College on October 27.
The Jumbos lead the conference with 50 goals (3.13 per game) while allowing only 10 (0.63 per game), a +2.50 margin. They also top the league in shots (333) and shots on goal (210).
Eleanor Helm paces the offense with 17 goals, 38 points and seven game-winning goals, all conference highs.
Claire Casey has added six goals and 14 points, while
Eleanor Luft ranks among the league's top shooters with 40 shots. In net,
Isabel Ginns posted a 0.61 goals-against average with seven shutouts.
The Middlebury Panthers, who went 9-1 in NESCAC play, are riding a six-game winning streak into the conference semifinals. Tufts handed them their only conference loss by a 2-0 score on October 10. In the NESCAC quarterfinals, a late penalty stroke beat Amherst 1-0.
The Panthers have scored 46 goals (2.88 per game) and allowed nine (0.56 per game), a +2.32 margin that trails only Tufts. They are tied with Bowdoin for the fewest goals allowed in NESCAC. Addie Chandler leads the team with 12 goals and 29 points, Emma McCann has 10 assists, and Megan Fuqua has scored nine goals. Goalie Izzy Redzic has posted a .931 save percentage and a 0.24 goals-against average in 510 minutes.
The Bowdoin Polar Bears were 7-3 in NESCAC play. After losing their conference opener 3-2 in overtime at Bates, they bounced back with wins over Amherst, Wesleyan and Williams, all ranked at the time. A 2-1 loss to Middlebury was followed by a run of eight straight wins before the loss at Tufts. They beat Wesleyan 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
The Polar Bears have scored 39 goals (2.44 per game) and allowed nine (0.56 per game), which as mentioned is tied for the fewest in the league. Their .875 team save percentage, led by goalie Eva Filipponi, is the best in the conference. Filipponi has a 0.58 goals-against average and nine shutouts, and the team has 10 in total. Emily Ferguson leads the scoring with 10 goals, Hannah Balmelli has nine goals (5 game-winners), and Charlotte Crawford has eight assists.
The Williams Ephs started their season 5-0. Their first loss came 1-0 at Bowdoin on September 20. Late wins over Wesleyan (1-0) and Hamilton (1-0) helped them secure a top-four seed at 6-4 in the conference. Losses to #1 Tufts (3-2) and Middlebury (1-0) closed the regular season.
The Ephs have scored 36 goals (2.25 per game) and allowed 15 (0.94 per game). They lead the conference with 144 corners, an average of nine per game. Goalie Ellie Smith has a 0.77 goals-against average. Haley McAuslin leads the team with 15 points on five goals and five assists. Madeline Rowland has scored six goals, and Claire Colvin has six assists.
NESCAC Tournament History
Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin and Williams have won 24 of the 25 NESCAC titles since the tournament started in 2000, with Bates' title last year the lone exception. The 2020 tournament was not held due to COVID-19.
The Jumbos are seeking their fourth conference championship, and first since 2024. They are in the tournament for the 24th time, having only not qualified in 2001 and 2002. The quarterfinal was the Jumbos' 50th NESCAC Tournament game and they have compiled a 30-20 record.
Middlebury has won the most NESCAC titles with 10, but not since 2023, which was the last of six straight won by the Panthers. They have never missed qualifying for the tournament and have a 46-15 record in those games.
Prior to Middlebury's dominance in NESCAC, Bowdoin was the team to beat. Their eight conference championships are second-most, but they have not won since 2015. The 2024 season is the only time the Polar Bears missed NESCAC's, and their 34-16 record in the tournament represents the second-most victories.
Williams had a great early run in the tournament, winning their three titles in 2001, 2002 and 2004. This is the 25th tournament appearance, missing only the 2010 season. The Ephs are 25-22 in NESCAC Tournament play.
Saturday will be the eighth conference tournament meeting between Tufts and Williams and the seventh in a semifinal. The Jumbos have won the last six meetings, with Williams' lone victory coming in the 2004 semifinals. The teams last met in the tournament in the 2024 semifinals with the game going to penalty strokes before Tufts won.
For Middlebury and Bowdoin, the 12 previous NESCAC Tournament games played between the teams include eight finals. The Panthers and Polar Bears met in the championship game in five straight years from 2011-15. Middlebury has won seven of the 12 games overall, including in last year's quarterfinal.
Championship Schedule
Semifinal: No. 4 Williams at No. 1 Tufts – Saturday, Nov. 7, 11:00 AM
Semifinal: No. 3 Bowdoin vs. No. 2 Middlebury – Saturday, Nov. 7, 1:30 PM
Final: Semifinal winners – Sunday, Nov. 8, 12:00 PM
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--JUMBOS--
