FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College has earned the top seed in the 2015 GNAC Field Hockey Tournament, which gets underway with first-round action next Saturday, October 31. The Sharks, along with second-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine, both receive first-round byes into the semifinals.

In the first round next Saturday, fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales University will travel to fourth-seeded Lasell College for a 12:00 p.m. start, while third-seeded Anna Maria College will host sixth-seeded Mount Ida College at 10:00 a.m. 

The Lasell-JWU winner will travel to Simmons in the semifinals on Wednesday, November 4, while Sainr Joseph's (Maine) will await the Anna Maria-Mount Ida winner. 

The 2015 GNAC title game is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 at the highest remaining seed. 

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions, 12 associate member institutions, and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.

First Round - Saturday, October 31
Game 1: #5 Johnson & Wales at #4 Lasell – 12:00 p.m.
Game 2: #6 Mount Ida at #3 Anna Maria – 10:00 a.m.

Semifinals - Wednesday, November 4
Game 3: Game 1 winner at #1 Simmons
Game 4: Game 2 winner at #2 Saint Joseph’s (Maine)

Championship - Saturday, November 7
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner (at highest remaining seed)

– #TheGNAC –