ALFRED, NY – Alfred University has announced the addition of field hockey as the 27^th team with play slated to begin in the Fall of 2025.
 
The newly formed program will join 158 other NCAA Division III teams as the largest number of field hockey programs in any division. The Saxons will compete in their 2025 season on Merrill Field at Yunevich Stadium and will move to their permanent practice and competition site, the Saxon Hill Sports Complex, in the Fall of 2026.
 
"I am thrilled to announce the addition of field hockey at Alfred University," Associate Vice President for Student Experience, Athletics & Recreation Deb Steward said. "It is an exciting sport that is prevalent in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The Saxon Hill Sports Complex will feature a synthetic turf field that will serve as the home of our field hockey team."
 
Alfred University will be one of 11 field hockey teams in the Empire 8, out of the 12 full members. The Saxons' opponents within the Empire 8 are:

• SUNY Brockport
• Elmira College
• SUNY Geneseo
• Hartwick College
• Houghton University
• Keuka College
• Nazareth University
• Russell Sage College
• St. John Fisher University
• Utica University

 
There are more than 1,800 high schools in 24 states within the United States that offer field hockey as a sport, predominately in the northeastern states such as New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland. California joins that group of states with a high concentration of high schools offering the sport.
 
Alfred University will begin a national search immediately to find the first head coach of the Saxon field hockey program. "We look forward to finding the right leader to build the foundation of Saxon field hockey," Steward said.