Christopher Newport and Salisbury Earn First-Round Byes to NCAA Field Hockey Tournament; Sea Gulls Gain At-Large Bid
For the ninth time in CAC history, multiple field hockey teams will be heading to the NCAA Tournament as CAC champion Christopher Newport and runner-up Salisbury earned first-round byes to the 24-team postseason field.
This marks the first time since 2013 that a pair of CAC squads received NCAA bids. In 2013, both CNU and Salisbury advanced to the Final Four.
CNU, which defeated Salisbury 2-1 in double overtime in Saturday's CAC Championship, was rewarded with a first-round bye and the opportunity to open the NCAA Tournament at home as CNU will host second- and third-round games beginning on Saturday at Captains Turf Field. The Captains (17-1) will play the winner of the Juniata vs. Kean first-round matchup, which will take place on Wednesday.
Salisbury (12-4), making its 33rd NCAA appearance in program history, received one of five Pool C bids in the field. They have also earned a first-round bye and will begin play in the second round on Saturday in Grantham, Pa. on the campus of Messiah. The Sea Gulls will take on the winner of Wednesday's first-round matchup between Trinity (Conn.) and Gwynedd Mercy.