5/28/2021 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Liberty field hockey squad has released its fall 2021 schedule, featuring several games against the nation's top teams.
Coming off their first spring competition slate in program history this past spring, the Lady Flames will return to a normal 17-game regular season slate as well as a seven-game BIG EAST Conference regular season schedule. Following an exhibition match at Virginia on Aug. 20, Liberty will gets its fall 2021 campaign started in California. The Lady Flames will take on California on Aug. 27 and UC Davis on Aug. 29.
Liberty's challenging 2021 schedule includes games against six of the top 20 teams in the country from this spring's final Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Coaches Poll. Four of those six opponents were among the top six programs in the country, including three-time defending national champion No. 1 North Carolina (road, Oct. 10), spring 2021 NCAA semifinalist No. 3 Louisville (road, Sept. 12), NCAA Tournament participant No. 5 Northwestern (home opener, Sept. 7) and nine-time defending BIG EAST champion No. 6 Connecticut (home, Sept. 24).
"This past season was full of program-wide milestones. We laid a solid foundation, as we will play back-to-back seasons for the first time ever," said Liberty Field Hockey Head Coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker. "I am extremely excited to watch our squad continue to close the gap. We have an excellent schedule that will allow us to play some of the top teams in the country outside of BIG EAST competition."
The Lady Flames will also face No. 19 Duke at home on Oct. 3 and No. 15 Old Dominion at the Liberty Field Hockey Field, Oct. 29. Liberty's eight-game home schedule also includes matchups with William & Mary (Sept. 19), Villanova (Oct. 8), Providence (Oct. 22) and Kent State (Oct. 24).
The Lady Flames' other road contests will be against Richmond (Sept. 3), Quinnipiac (Oct. 1), Temple (Oct. 15) and Longwood (Oct. 17).
Liberty, entering its sixth season in the BIG EAST, will open conference play at Georgetown on Sept. 17. The 2021 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship will be held Nov. 5-7, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.
The Lady Flames closed the spring 2021 campaign with a 13-3 record, 12-2 BIG EAST mark, No. 8 national ranking and No. 3 position in the NCAA Field Hockey RPI. Liberty earned a No. 4 national ranking on March 23, the highest ranking in program history and the best ranking of any Liberty sport at the Division I level.
Liberty field hockey has reached the NCAA Field Hockey Championship twice in program history (2013 and 2014). The Lady Flames are in search of their first BIG EAST title in school history.
It's here... WHO'S READY?!
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) May 28, 2021
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