INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the sixth time overall, but the first since 2000, two America East field hockey programs will head to the NCAA tournament. Conference champion Albany and Stanford were two of 18 teams inserted into the 2015 bracket Sunday night.
America East joined the ACC and Big Ten as the only conferences to send multiple teams to the tournament.
Just a year removed from a run to the Final Four, Albany's received its draw for the 2015 NCAA tournament hours after winning its fifth America East championship since 2008 and earning the conference's automatic qualifier. The Great Danes (19-2) will face Boston College (12-8) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Storrs, Conn. The winner will face the winner of fourth-seeded UConn and Louisville on Sunday.
Stanford, which is making its sixth NCAA appearance in the last seven years, earned one of the eight at-large bids to the championship. The Cardinal will face Duke (12-6) on Saturday at 2 p.m. Stanford beat the Blue Devils earlier this season, 3-2 in overtime.
Albany is making its fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and second in as many years. Last year, the Great Danes became just the third America East team to reach the Final Four as they beat Wake Forest and Maryland before falling to eventual national champion, UConn, 1-0, in the national semifinals.
Earlier in the day, Albany beat #19 Maine, 2-0, to win the America East title. The Great Danes outscored foes, 14-1, in their three tournament wins. Anna Bottino scored four of those goals and added two assists to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.
Stanford, the 13th ranked team in the country, will be making its 14th NCAA appearance. The Cardinal won their first NCAA game in program history a year ago, beating Louisville in the first round, before falling to UConn in the quarterfinals.