2018 BIG EAST Tournament Preview

The bracket is set for the upcoming 2018 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship this coming weekend. All games will be held at the Liberty Field Hockey Field on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The tournament will consist of the top four teams in the BIG EAST Conference. The semifinals will include No. 1 UConn against No. 4 Villanova and No. 2 Liberty against No. 3 Providence. The semifinals will be on Friday followed by the championship game on Sunday. The winner of the BIG EAST Tournament will automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

#1 UConn (16-3, 7-0 BIG EAST)

Antonia Tiedtke (Photo Credit: UConn Athletics)

UConn is the dominant team once again in the BIG EAST conference. The Huskies finished undefeated in conference play for the fifth straight season. They also garnered their sixth straight BIG EAST regular season title. The Huskies currently lead the conference in shots (332), goals (81) and assists (71). 

Team Stat Leaders

Shots: Cecile Pieper (70)

Goals: Cecile Pieper (21)

Assists: Antonia Tiedtke (16)   

                          

Goalkeeper: Cheyenne Sprecher 16-3, 71 saves

#2 Liberty (12-5, 6-1 BIG EAST)

Agueda Maroni (Photo Credit: Gabrielle Calhoun)

Liberty has won five straight games in the BIG EAST this season. The first time the Lady Flames have had the most conference wins in program history. Liberty claimed the second seed in the BIG EAST tournament after a 4-0 shutout against Providence. The Lady Flames will face the Friars again

on Friday. Liberty is No. 2 shots (282), goals (59) and assists (49).

Team Stat Leaders

Shots: Agueda Moroni (105)

Goals: Agueda Moroni (25)

Assists: Agueda Moroni (11)

Goalkeeper: Allison Schaefer 12-5, 66 saves

#3 Providence (11-8, 4-3 BIG EAST)

Lydia Rice (Photo Credit: Providence Athletics)

Providence claimed its berth to the BIG EAST Tournament after beating Georgetown 2-1 in a shootout on Oct. 19. The Friars have won all three of their games that have gone into overtime this season. The Friars had a rough start at the beginning of the year but have since won 11 out of the final

15 games. Providence is No. 4 in the BIG EAST in assists (32) and saves (91), No. 5 in shots (211) and No. 6 in goals (36).

Team Stat Leaders

Shots: Allyson Parker (36)

Goals: Izzy Mendez (7)

Assists: Maddie Babineau (6)

Goalkeeper: Lydia Rice 11-6, 80 saves

#4 Villanova (9-9, 4-3 BIG EAST)

Erika Miller (Photo Credit: Villanova Athletics)

Villanova will be the fourth and final seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. They earned their spot

following a 2-1 shootout win over Old Dominion on Oct. 26. This will be the first time the Wildcats have been to the tournament since 2015. They are currently No. 2 in saves (104), No. 3 in shots (253), No. 5 in goals (38) and No. 6 in assists (29).

Team Stat Leaders

Shots: Lydia Sydnor (69)

Goals: Lydia Sydnor (8), Megan Vermeil (8)

Assists: Megan Vermeil (4)

Goalkeeper: Erika Miller 9-9, 93 saves