Boston College Athletics
'16 Slate Packed with Nation’s Top Opponents
June 21, 2016 | Field Hockey
Head coach Kelly Doton’s Eagles to face one of the country’s toughest schedules in 2016
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, head coach Kelly Doton's Boston College field hockey team is set to face one of the nation's toughest schedules again in 2016. | VIEW FULL 2016 SCHEDULE
Of the 18 opponents on the Eagles' 2016 slate, 12 were ranked in the final NFHCA poll last year – including the top seven ranked teams – while 11 upcoming opponents appeared alongside BC in the 16-team NCAA Tournament field.
All six of the Eagles' ACC opponents – including national champion Syracuse and national runner-up North Carolina – were ranked in the top 11 of the final NFCHA poll. In fact, in all but one edition of the poll, at least six of the conference's teams were ranked inside the Top 10 every week.
BC opens the season on the road at Quinnipiac on Friday, Aug. 26, before facing traditional powers Northwestern and Maryland in the Big Ten/ACC Cup the following weekend. For the second year in a row, the teams will meet at The Nook in Lancaster, Pa. In 2015, BC upset the then-No. 3 Terps, 3-2 in overtime, before falling to the No. 10 Wildcats in the Big Ten/ACC Cup.
"We have committed to play in the Big Ten/ACC Cup again this year because it's a tremendous opportunity to compete against two of the top teams in the Big Ten.
"The Nook is not only the home of USA Field Hockey, but it's also a great venue to showcase field hockey – we love playing there. We have players who grew up very close to Lancaster so it also gives their families a chance to see the team play in their backyard," Doton said.
One week later, the Eagles open ACC conference play with a road game at 2015 national champion Syracuse and a neutral-site game (in Syracuse) against Stanford. Doton will use that weekend as early preparation for postseason-tournament play – both the ACC Championship – this year hosted by Wake Forest – and ultimately the NCAA Tournament.
"One of the toughest weekends we will have is competing against Syracuse and Stanford on back-to-back days," Doton said. "We're using this weekend as a focus for the ACC and NCAA Tournaments where we could be faced with a similar situation of playing two top teams in a row in November."
The Eagles will also face nationally-recognized non-conference Connecticut (which finished 2015 ranked No. 3 nationally), Massachusetts and Boston University, and will play games against Indiana, Providence and Harvard away from home.
"I'm looking forward to watching our players compete against the best teams in the country and I know they are looking forward to the challenge as well."
Boston College finished the 2015 campaign with an 13-9 record. BC advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Championship for the first time in program history, and claimed its third NCAA Quarterfinals berth. The Eagles return 18 letterwinners and will welcome five freshmen to the 2016 squad.
Of the 18 opponents on the Eagles' 2016 slate, 12 were ranked in the final NFHCA poll last year – including the top seven ranked teams – while 11 upcoming opponents appeared alongside BC in the 16-team NCAA Tournament field.
All six of the Eagles' ACC opponents – including national champion Syracuse and national runner-up North Carolina – were ranked in the top 11 of the final NFCHA poll. In fact, in all but one edition of the poll, at least six of the conference's teams were ranked inside the Top 10 every week.
BC opens the season on the road at Quinnipiac on Friday, Aug. 26, before facing traditional powers Northwestern and Maryland in the Big Ten/ACC Cup the following weekend. For the second year in a row, the teams will meet at The Nook in Lancaster, Pa. In 2015, BC upset the then-No. 3 Terps, 3-2 in overtime, before falling to the No. 10 Wildcats in the Big Ten/ACC Cup.
"We have committed to play in the Big Ten/ACC Cup again this year because it's a tremendous opportunity to compete against two of the top teams in the Big Ten.
"The Nook is not only the home of USA Field Hockey, but it's also a great venue to showcase field hockey – we love playing there. We have players who grew up very close to Lancaster so it also gives their families a chance to see the team play in their backyard," Doton said.
One week later, the Eagles open ACC conference play with a road game at 2015 national champion Syracuse and a neutral-site game (in Syracuse) against Stanford. Doton will use that weekend as early preparation for postseason-tournament play – both the ACC Championship – this year hosted by Wake Forest – and ultimately the NCAA Tournament.
"One of the toughest weekends we will have is competing against Syracuse and Stanford on back-to-back days," Doton said. "We're using this weekend as a focus for the ACC and NCAA Tournaments where we could be faced with a similar situation of playing two top teams in a row in November."
The Eagles will also face nationally-recognized non-conference Connecticut (which finished 2015 ranked No. 3 nationally), Massachusetts and Boston University, and will play games against Indiana, Providence and Harvard away from home.
"I'm looking forward to watching our players compete against the best teams in the country and I know they are looking forward to the challenge as well."
Boston College finished the 2015 campaign with an 13-9 record. BC advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Championship for the first time in program history, and claimed its third NCAA Quarterfinals berth. The Eagles return 18 letterwinners and will welcome five freshmen to the 2016 squad.
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