Indianapolis, Ind. -- One of the nation's toughest schedules paid off.
University of Lynchburg's field hockey team earned an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Division III tournament, the NCAA announced Sunday night with the full 26-team bracket. The Hornets have the privilege of a first-round home game to boot; Lynchburg will play host to Salisbury Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. on Shellenberger Field.
It will be Lynchburg's third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament and 19th overall, but the 2021 season marks just the second time the Hornets are included in the field as an at-large team. Just seven teams are selected from the NCAA's 'Pool C' for at-large inclusion.
Lynchburg enters NCAA play as one of the most battle-tested teams in the bracket. The Hornets hold a 12-7 record, but nine of those contests were against teams included in the latest NCAA regional rankings. Lynchburg rattled off three victories over programs ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's top 20 poll this season, including Thursday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament semifinal win over No. 19 Shenandoah. No. 11 Washington and Lee then topped the Hornets for the league's trophy and automatic bid Saturday.
The Hornets have enjoyed success in the national tournament in recent seasons, winning in their last two appearances. In 2018, the Hornets defeated Denison, 3-1, on Shellenberger Field but fell in the second round. In 2019, Lynchburg hit the road and bested No. 12 Centre, 2-1, in first-round action before ousting No. 8 Rowan, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinals. Lynchburg posted a perfect 10-0 record in the 2020-21 season and hoisted the ODAC trophy for a third-straight year, but there was no NCAA tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lynchburg was the last team from the ODAC to earn an at-large selection to the tournament, doing so in 2005.
Salisbury (11-7) enters tournament play fresh off a Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference crown and are receiving votes in the latest NFHCA ballot. Wednesday's meeting will be the third between the perennial powers in the NCAA tournament. The Sea Gulls ousted Lynchburg in the 2019 quarterfinals, 2-0; Lynchburg topped SU, 2-1 on penalty strokes, in the 2001 tourney.
Wednesday's winner will advance to a second-round game at No. 2 Johns Hopkins on Saturday.
RELATED: 2021 NCAA Division III field hockey tournament bracket
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