HAMILTON, N.Y.’ The 51·çÁ÷ Athletic Department has announced the 2003 field hockey schedule.
The Raiders travel to Baltimore, Md. on August 30 for their season opener at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The game marks the first meeting between the two schools.
51·çÁ÷ returns home for two games at Tyler’s Field against Patriot League foe Bucknell on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Northeast Conference opponent Siena on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
51·çÁ÷ then hits the road for four away games at Fairfield on Saturday, Sept. 13, Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 20, Rider on Sunday, Sept. 21 and Holy Cross on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Ivy League opponent Columbia visits Hamilton for a game on Friday, Oct. 3 and St. Francis comes to town on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The Raiders play one more away game at Sacred Heart on Friday, Oct. 10 before five home games. Albany comes to town on Wednesday, Oct. 15, Lafayette, last year’s Patriot League champion, visits on Saturday, Oct. 18 while America East’s Maine is on the slate for Sunday, Oct. 19.
51·çÁ÷ closes out the home schedule against Syracuse on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and American on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The final game of the regular season will be played at Cornell on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Patriot League Tournament (the top four teams advance) is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9 at the site of the highest seed.
Head coach Cathy Foto believes competition in the league will be intense once again.
‘Traditional leaders Holy Cross and Lafayette will battle young squads from around the league looking to break into the top four and return to the tournament in 2003,’ Foto said.