CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team is making its final preparations for its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance as the Hawks will take on 10th-ranked Wake Forest on Friday afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium.

#9 Saint Joseph's vs. #10 Wake Forest
2022 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship First Round
Friday, November 11 • Karen Shelton Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C. • 2:30 p.m.
Tickets • Watch Live (ESPN+) • Live Stats

The Hawks, ranked ninth in the final Penn Monto / NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll of the season on Tuesday, are seeking the first NCAA Tournament win in program history.  The Demon Deacons, three-time national champions, are making their first appearance since 2018.  Friday's winner will meet the winner of the contest between #1 North Carolina and Delaware on Sunday for a trip to the Final Four.

The programs have met just once, with Wake Forest earning a 2-0 win on Hawk Hill in 1998.

Saint Joseph's (15-4) received its berth courtesy of winning the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship, the program's fifth title in the last six seasons.  The Hawks dominated #21 UMass in a 3-0 road victory; the SJU defense did not allow a shot to the Minutewomen in the contest.

Wake Forest (15-5) received an at-large berth after falling in the ACC semifinals to #3 Virginia.  The Demon Deacons went 5-1 in league play, earning the two seed in the postseason championship.

LEADERS
Goals: SJU: Lily Santi, 17; WF: Meike Lanckohr, 10
Assists: SJU: Lily Santi, 9; WF: Meike Lanckohr, 13
Points: SJU: Lily Santi, 43; WF: Meike Lanckohr, 33
Game-winning Goals: SJU: Manu Ghigliotti / Lily Santi / Freke van Tilburg, 3; WF: Sky Caron, 4
Goals Against Average: SJU: Robin Bleekemolen, 1.00; WF: Ellie Todd, 1.38
Save Percentage: SJU: Robin Bleekemolen, .729; WF: Ellie Todd, .729