Saint Joseph’s field hockey has announced its 2026 schedule, the first under head coach Sam Brown, and the slate is packed with national contenders. The Hawks will face five teams that won conference championships in 2025, seven teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids last season, two Final Four participants, and seven opponents ranked in the final NFHCA Coaches Poll. The season begins with exhibitions at Monmouth on August 21 and at home against Delaware on August 23 before opening competition on August 28 against reigning America East champion New Hampshire. Saint Joseph’s hosts UConn on August 30, with the two schools also meeting at a neutral site on August 29.
The early portion of the schedule brings a strong non-conference test. The Hawks host Big East champion Liberty on September 4 and then travel to Drexel on September 6 for their fourth straight game against a 2025 NCAA Tournament team. Saint Joseph’s defeated Drexel 2-0 in the opening round of last season’s NCAA Tournament after losing to the Dragons in the regular season. The team then plays at Lehigh on September 11 and at Maryland on September 13 before opening Atlantic 10 play at Saint Louis on September 18. A road matchup at Louisville on September 20 finishes that trip.
Conference play continues with an Atlantic 10 title-game rematch against Richmond at Ellen Ryan Field on September 25. The Hawks then head to North Carolina for games at Davidson on October 2 and Duke on October 4. Defending ACC champion and 2025 national semifinalist North Carolina visits Hawk Hill on October 9, followed by a road game at Penn on October 11. Lock Haven comes to Ellen Ryan Field on October 16, and local rival Villanova visits on October 18.
Saint Joseph’s will continue with a road game at VCU on October 23, then travels to Princeton on October 25 in a matchup of the last two national runners-up. The regular season concludes at home against La Salle on October 30. Overall, the schedule features opponents from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big East, Ivy League, and Atlantic 10, giving the Hawks one of their most challenging slates in recent years.
Brown said the demanding non-conference schedule is designed to test the team and prepare it for conference play and postseason competition. The 2026 Atlantic 10 Championship will be held on November 5 and 7, followed by the start of the NCAA Tournament on November 11. The Final Four and national championship will take place at Louisville’s Trager Stadium on November 20 and 22.
