No. 2 Virginia Hosts NCAA Regional This Weekend

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia field hockey team earned the No. 2 overall seed in the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey Championship and will host a regional for just the second time in school history.

Virginia (18-3) will meet Richmond (14-8) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the first round at the University Hall Turf Field. Big Ten champion Michigan State (17-3) and Colonial Athletic Association champion Delaware (14-5) will compete in the second game at approximately 2 p.m. The winners will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday for a chance to advance to the national semifinals.

The Cavaliers are making their fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament under fourth-year head coach Michele Madison. Virginia is making its 16th NCAA appearance and 19th overall national championship appearance.

“There’s no place like home,” Madison said. “The team is so excited and the fans have been so supportive. I beg them to come back and support us through this one.”

Virginia, which also hosted a regional in 1997, is coming off an appearance in the championship game of the ACC Tournament last weekend. The team needs one more victory to tie the program record for wins in a season.

The Cavaliers played at Richmond earlier this season, earning a 4-3 victory. The Spiders are coming off a win over Ohio University in the play-in game and also claimed the Atlantic-10 championship. Virginia and Richmond have never met in the NCAA Tournament.

“Every team you play is going to be tough,” Madison said. “Richmond is a talented team and we know that. They have strong forwards and can move the ball up the field. We have to bring our A game.”

Tickets for the NCAA games are available at the gate for $5 for adults and $3 for students and youth. Parking will be available for $5 in the Cage Lot adjacent to the Turf Field.