Maha Clarke and her Queens University of Charlotte Women’s Field Hockey teammates will step foot on Dickson Field at the Queens Sports Complex this year for NCAA Division II competition for the first time ever.
Queens University of Charlotte began their journey last year as a club team with just seven members, and this fall 17 student-athletes will suit up stamping their place in Queens University of Charlotte history books.
Head Coach Brandi Kist was hired in January of 2015 after serving as the head coach of the field hockey team at NCAA Division I Appalachian State for nine seasons.
"We have been waiting for this weekend for over a year and a half and are so excited to get our inaugural NCAA season underway," said Coach Kist. "The five returners have done an amazing job establishing and leading our team vision, living our team values, upholding our standards and helping to instill those within the newcomers. While we may be a young team they are eager to learn, grow together, and compete. The progress they have made during preseason has been amazing to watch. We are looking forward to see this team develop and do great things this season."
Queens' roster is made up of nine freshmen including Clarke from Bermuda, five sophomores, two juniors and one senior. Five players return from last year's club season of competition while the other 12 are new to the Queens campus.
Queens University of Charlotte will begin their 17-game 2016 campaign at home when they welcome Southern New Hampshire University to the Queens Sports Complex. They will follow that game with another one at home against Belmont Abbey College. Queens University of Charlotte are expecting to match-up well against both teams.
They will then be challenged on the road in week two as they take on Bellarmine University and Bloomsburg University in Louisville, Ky. Bellarmine completed the 2015 season ranked 17th, while Bloomsburg was 12th. Queens University of Charlotte will also face PSAC powerhouse Millersville University, who finished ranked third in the nation last year, in the middle of the season.
Queens University of Charlotte will welcome 2015 ECAC Champions Limestone College to the Queens Sports Complex in late October along with Mercyhurst University. The Saints ranked No. 11 at the close of the 2015 season, while the Lakers were 16th.
Queens University of Charlotte will end their first official season with a trip to New York to play Molloy College and Saint Thomas Aquinas College, two other independents.
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