For the 10th time in NESCAC Field Hockey Championship history, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will meet in the final. Top-seeded Tufts advanced with an overtime win over No. 4 Williams while No. 2 Middlebury shutout No. 3 Bowdoin to reach the final.

The game 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 def. No. 4 Williams, 3-2 (OT) | Box Score
Eleanor Helm scored 7:07 into overtime to lift top-seeded Tufts to a 3-2 win over No. 4 seed Williams in the NESCAC Semifinals at Ounjian Field. The Jumbos improved to 18-0 and advance to Sunday’s championship game for the thrid time in five seasons.

Williams (11-7) struck first on Katie Sigrist’s goal at 5:39. Tufts' Claire Casey tied it on a penalty stroke in the 31st minute, and Hannah Herlihy put the Ephs back in front at 42:29 on a penalty-corner assist from Claire Colvin.

Williams goalie Ellie Smith kept the lead through a barrage in the fourth quarter, when Tufts had eight shots and five corners. Katarina Villa broke through at 58:49 to force overtime. Helm, who took six shots, won it in the extra period.

Tufts goalie Isabel Ginns made two saves, including one on a Herlihy penalty stroke at 36:53 that would have given Williams a 2-1 lead. Smith finished with seven saves.

No. 2 Middlebury def. No. 3 Bowdoin, 2-0 | Box Score
Claire McMichael and Addie Chandler scored for No. 2 seed Middlebury in a 2-0 win over No. 3 seed Bowdoin (13-5) to reach the NESCAC Championship game for the 17th time in program history.

McMichael broke a scoreless tie at 23:54 with her sixth goal of the season. Chandler added her 13th marker of the year at 49:48 to double the lead.

Middlebury (16-2) outshot Bowdoin 12-7 and had a 6-3 edge in penalty corners, including three in the fourth quarter. Bowdoin goalie Eva Filipponi made six saves, four of them in the final period, to keep it a two-goal game. Izzy Redzic made three saves for Middlebury for the shutout.

NOTES: Tufts is making its ninth appearance in the championship game and third in five seasons ... The Jumbos own three titles (last: 2024) ... Middlebury is in the final for the first time since 2023 and making its 17th championship game appearance ... The Panthers have won 10 titles including six straight from 2017-2023 ... Tufts posted a 2-0 win over Middlebury at Ounjian Field on October 10 ... The Panthers are 6-1 versus Tufts in the NESCAC postseason with the latst meeting being the 2022 championship game, a 2-0 win for Middlebury.

The top two seeds in the NESCAC Field Hockey Championship have played in the final nine times ... The No. 1 seed has won four of the nine contests ... The 2026 final marks the fifth Tufts-Middlebury final since 2016 ... The Panthers are 3-1 versus the Jumbos in the NESCAC Final - 2016: Tufts def. Middlebury, 3-1 at Tufts / 2018: Middlebury def. Tufts, 1-0 at Middlebury / 2019: Middlebury def. Tufts, 3-2 (OT) at Middlebury / 2022: Middlebury def. Tufts, 2-0 at Middlebury.

No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the championship game:

• 2022: No. 1 Middlebury def. No. 2 Tufts, 2-0
• 2018: No. 1 Middlebury def. No. 2 Tufts, 1-0
• 2015: No. 1 Bowdoin def. No. 2 Middlebury, 2-1
• 2014: No. 2 Middlebury def. No. 1 Bowdoin, 2-1
• 2010: No. 2 Bowdoin def. No. 1 Tufts, 3-0
• 2009: No. 2 Tufts def. No. 1 Trinity, 3-2
• 2008: No. 2 Bowdoin def. No. 1 Tufts, 1-0
• 2006: No. 1 Bowdoin def. No. 2 Middlebury, 1-0
• 2002: No. 2 Williams def. No. 1 Bowdoin, 2-1