The inventor of synthetic turf and leader in field hockey, AstroTurf, will again be well represented in this year’s 2021 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships.
Of the 18 teams advancing to this year’s tournament, 16 play home games on AstroTurf. The semifinals and finals will also take place on AstroTurf at the University of Michigan at Phyllis Ocker Field Hockey Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
AstroTurf has been the surface at every NCAA Division I Final Four tournament since the game transitioned from natural grass.
Ten conferences were awarded automatic qualification. The four lowest automatic-qualification teams will compete in two opening round games beginning Wednesday, Nov. 10th. The remaining six automatic-qualification teams were placed in the bracket.
The conference champions included Maine (American East), North Carolina (Atlantic Coast), Saint Joseph’s (Atlantic 10), Liberty (Big East), Rutgers (Big 10), Harvard (Ivy League), Delaware (Colonial Athletic Association), Miami University (Mid-American), Fairfield (Northeast), American (Patriot League).
Nine out of the ten conference champions play on AstroTurf.
The remaining field consists of Louisville, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, Syracuse, Penn State, Northwestern, and Iowa.
“We are thrilled to see so many AstroTurf schools in the NCAA tournament, said Melissa Vassalotti Twist, AstroTurf’s National Manager of Field Hockey Sales. “To have 16 out of the 18 Division I teams that play daily on our surface in the NCAA tournament is incredible. Hockey coaches along with their Universities trust AstroTurf to produce and install the best hockey surface for high level championship play and we are elated to deliver this for our hockey community.”
First-and second-round games will be played on four campus sites November 12 and 14. Michigan will host the semifinals and final Friday, November 19 and Sunday, November 21, at Phyllis Ocker Field Hockey Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The semifinals will be available on ESPN+ and the championship game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
North Carolina is the defending national champion, claiming its ninth NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship title with a 4-3 overtime victory over Michigan at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on May 9, 2021.
Karen Shelton Stadium is also an AstroTurf field.
“The NCAA Division I Field Hockey Final Four has been played on an AstroTurf surface since the game left grass,” Twist added. “We are pleased to see this tradition continue at the University of Michigan. We are looking forward to watching Championship hockey in Ann Arbor on their AstroTurf Poligras Platinum field.
“AstroTurf can be found at every level of Field Hockey, from the Division I, II, III, and high school level. At any place where excellence is expected and championships are pursued you can expect to see an AstroTurf surface.”
AstroTurf has a long history of innovation and leadership in the hockey world. It’s the brand that changed the sport. Specialized knitting equipment and manufacturing history has kept AstroTurf at the top of hockey world’s elite surfacing.
Today, leading fiber technologies and modern plant have enabled AstroTurf to deliver high quality hockey fields through a full range of systems.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and reliable safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.