FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First-round action
begins next Saturday

WINTHROP, Mass. – Top-seeded Lasell College and second-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine have earned first-round byes in the 2017 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Tournament, the league office announced on Saturday afternoon. Third-seeded Simmons College and fourth-seeded Johnson & Wales University will host first-round contests next Saturday, October 28, as the Sharks play host to sixth-seeded Anna Maria College and the Wildcats welcome fifth-seeded Mount Ida College.

The Mount Ida/JWU winner will advance to take on No. 1 Lasell on Wednesday, November 1 in the GNAC Semifinals, while the Anna Maria/Simmons winner will travel to No. 2 Saint Joseph's in the other semi contest. The conference title game will take place at the highest remaining seed in two weeks on GNAC Championship Saturday, November 4. The winner will receive the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Game times and locations will be announced in the coming days. Be sure to watch all of the action live on thegnac.tv or watch your favorite GNAC teams on one of our four custom digital streaming apps.  

Saturday, October 28 - First Round
Game 1: #5 Mount Ida at #4 Johnson & Wales - 4:00 PM
Game 2: #6 Anna Maria at #3 Simmons - 11:00 AM

Wednesday, November 1 - Semifinals
Game 3: 4/5 winner at #1  Lasell - 3:00 PM
Game 4: 3/6 winner at #2 Saint Joseph's of Maine - TBA

Saturday, November 4 - Final
Game 5: Highest remaining seed

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

– #TheGNAC –