CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte field hockey team will open its 2023 season in Pennsylvania this weekend facing Saint Francis on Friday, Aug. 25 and Lock Haven on Sunday, Aug. 27.
 
About the Royals

• The meeting between the Royal and the Red Flash will be the first in program history
• Queens was one of five schools in the country to make the transition from Division II to Division II last season.
• The Royals are a member of the ASUN Conference which does not sponsor field hockey.
• The Royals bring back 13 letterwinners from last fall's roster. Queens lost 11 players last season, but managed to fill nine spots with incoming freshman.
• The Royals are coming off an inaugural DI season where they went 1-14 picking up a win at the close of the season over Limestone.
• Prior to the DI transition, Queens won the 2019 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Regular Season title after posting a 13-7 record, and 10-2 mark in league play. Queens reached the conference championship in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• The Royals return leading goal scorer Sydney Smith who totaled seven points on three goals and one assist. Jarmilla Richter and Caroline Powell also return after contributing two goals each. Ellie Fitzgerald returns to the roster taking her fifth-year option.
• The Royals have two fresh faces in the cage this season in freshmen. Grace Meinke and Manisha Desai.
• In 2022, Queens hoisted a .546 shots on goal percentage.

Saint Francis Notes

• The Red Flash were tabbed to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Leading scorer Eva Valentini returns this season after recording 30 points on 12 goals and six assists last year.
• Both keepers, Amber Bryan and Chloe South, return in the cage. Bryan went 4-7 last season with .607 save percentage while South was 3-5 with a .736 save percentage.

 
Lock Haven Notes

• The Bald Eagles have a new head coach this season in Anna Rogers as they enter the year picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Preseason Poll.
• Martina Spangenberg was name to the preseason all-conference team after totaling 23 points on 10 goals and three assists.
• Kelsey Felix returns in goal after posting an 11-6 record with a .674 save percentage.

 
Social Media
Be sure to follow the Royals field hockey team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics to stay updated on all the Royals sports teams in action by searching @QueensAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.