11/8/2026 | Field Hockey
BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College field hockey team has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, as announced in the tournament selections on Sunday evening.
The Polar Bears (13-4), who finished third in the final NCAA Division III NPI rankings, will host an NCAA Tournament regional for the first time since 2015. Bowdoin received a first-round bye and will open tournament play on Saturday, November 14, at 11:00 a.m. The second game of the day will follow at 2:00 p.m., with the winners advancing to Sunday’s national quarterfinal at 1:00 p.m.
Regional Schedule – Complete NCAA Division III Bracket
The NCAA Tournament begins with three first-round games on Wednesday, November 11, with the winners advancing to second-round competition over the weekend in Brunswick.
Wednesday, November 11 – NCAA First Round
Endicott (16-4) at Amherst (9-7)
Bridgewater State (13-7) at Williams (11-6)
Rhodes (14-1) at Rowan (17-4)
Saturday, November 14 – NCAA Second Round (Brunswick, Maine)
11:00 a.m. – Bowdoin (13-4) vs. Amherst/Endicott
2:00 p.m. – Williams/Bridgewater State vs. Rhodes/Rowan
Sunday, November 15 – NCAA Quarterfinal (Brunswick, Maine)
1:00 p.m. – Second-Round Winners
About the Polar Bears
One of the most successful programs in Division III field hockey history, Bowdoin will make its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance overall. Under longtime head coach Nicky Pearson, the Polar Bears have captured four national championships in their distinguished history. Bowdoin enters NCAA Tournament play with a 13-4 record following a run to the NESCAC semifinals, its first appearance in the conference’s final four since 2021. The Polar Bears won nine of ten games during a late-season stretch, including a 2-0 victory over Wesleyan in the NESCAC quarterfinals, before falling to second-ranked Middlebury in the conference semifinals. Emily Ferguson leads Bowdoin’s offense with ten goals this season, followed by Hannah Balmelli with nine, while Charlotte Crawford has contributed five goals and eight assists. Defensively, goalkeeper Eva Filipponi has anchored one of the nation’s stingiest units, leading the NESCAC with nine shutouts and a 0.58 goals-against average entering the conference semifinals.
Championship Information
The NCAA requires tickets for all tournament games, with admission priced at $15 for adults and $5 for students per day. Children under the age of two will be admitted free of charge. Advance ticket sales will begin at noon on Thursday, November 12, with tickets available through GoUBears.com.
Live coverage of all regional games will be provided by the NCAA through the NCAA Championships Pass.
The winner of Sunday’s national quarterfinal will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship semifinals and final, which will be hosted by William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., on November 20 and 22.
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