HADLEY, Mass. – Tufts University has earned the top seed in the 2026 NESCAC Field Hockey Championship for the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2016.
 
The tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Saturday, October 31 at the higher seeds. The four quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinal round on Saturday, November 7 at the highest remaining seed. The championship game is set for Sunday, November 8, at the semifinal host site. The NESCAC Champion will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

All games will be streamed for free via the NESCAC NETWORK powered by NSN. The NESCAC NETWORK is available on the streaming apps for television (Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku), computers, and mobile devices (iOS, Android). Find the apps by searching for NESCAC Network in your device’s app store. Download the app and begin watching wherever you are.
 
No. 1 Tufts (15-0, 10-0 NESCAC) vs. No. 8 Colby (8-7, 3-7 NESCAC)

• The Jumbos clinched the No. 1 seed with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Williams on October 24. Tufts finished the regular season 10-0 in conference play and 15-0 overall.
• The Jumbos’ unblemished conference record marks the 11th time a team has achieved a perfect mark in NESCAC Field Hockey history and the second by the Jumbos (2008, 9-0).
• Tufts has qualified for the NESCAC postseason for the 23rd season in a row.
• Colby earned a 2-0 win over Bates on the final day of the regular season to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker and earn a spot in the NESCAC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
• The Mules are the No. 8 seed for the third time in team history and are in the tournament field for the 10th time.
• Colby’s eight wins are the most since 2019 (8-7).
• Tufts defeated Colby, 5-0, in Medford, Massachusetts on September 12. The Jumbos are 2-0 against the Mules in the NESCAC Tournament. The teams last met in the 2008 tournament.

No. 2 Middlebury (13-2, 9-1 NESCAC) vs. No. 7 Amherst (9-6, 4-6 NESCAC)

• Middlebury has qualified for every NESCAC Tournament and has won 10 NESCAC titles (last: 2023).
• Middlebury is the No. 2 seed for the second year in a row.
• The Panthers have advanced to the semifinals in 14 consecutive tournaments.
• Amherst is making its sixth straight appearance and 23rd all-time in the NESCAC Tournament.
• The Mammoths are the No. 7 seed for the second time in four years.
• Amherst last reached the semifinal round in 2023, where it played Middlebury and suffered a 4-1 setback.
• The quarterfinal matchup is the first time Middlebury and Amherst will meet in the tournament since the 2023 semifinals. The Panthers own a 5-2 edge in the NESCAC Tournament series. This season, Middlebury won 3-0 at Amherst on September 19.

No. 3 Bowdoin (12-3, 7-3 NESCAC) vs. No. 6 Wesleyan (10-5, 5-5 NESCAC)

• Bowdoin has qualified for 25 of the 26 NESCAC Tournaments and is the No. 3 seed for the first time since 2021.
• The Polar Bears have won eight NESCAC crowns, their last coming in 2015.
• Bowdoin closed the regular season winning seven of its last eight games and is seeking its first trip to the semifinals since 2021.
• The Polar Bears’ 12 wins are the most since the 2021 campaign.
• Wesleyan is the No. 6 seed for the first time since 2003. The Cardinals were the NESCAC Runners-Up last season after reaching the championship game for the first time in program history.
• Wesleyan is making its fourth consecutive appearance and 17th overall in the tournament field.
• The Cardinals have won five of their last seven games, including three straight heading into the tournament.
• Bowdoin is 2-0 against Wesleyan in the NESCAC Tournament. The two teams last met in the 2002 semifinals with the Polar Bears posting a 4-0 win. Bowdoin recorded a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on September 19 in Brunswick, Maine.

No. 4 Williams (10-5, 6-4 NESCAC) vs. No. 5 Hamilton (11-4, 6-4 NESCAC)

• Williams is the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2023 and will host a quarterfinal game for the third time in four years.
• The Ephs have earned a tournament berth for the 14th straight season and have qualified for 25 of the 26 NESCAC Tournaments.
• Williams owns three titles (last: 2004) and played in the championship game seven times (last: 2023).
• Hamilton is the No. 5 seed for the first time in team history and has secured a spot in the NESCAC Tournament for the 11th time in 12 years and for the third consecutive season.
• The Continentals posted 11 regular season wins for the second year in a row. They have had five overtime games this season and are 4-1 in those contests.
• Williams defeated Hamilton, 1-0, in Williamstown, Massachusetts on October 20 to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker and the fourth seed. The quarterfinal game will be the first time the teams meet in the NESCAC Tournament.

Tiebreakers

• Williams and Hamilton finished with identical conference records of 6-4. In head-to-head competition, Williams defeated Hamilton to earn the No. 4 seed.
• Colby and Bates finished with identical conference records of 3-7. In head-to-head competition, Colby defeated Bates to earn the No. 8 seed.