SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University field hockey and women's soccer teams are set to compete in the opening round of the Landmark Conference Tournament on Saturday, October 31, with both squads traveling to face third-seeded opponents. Field hockey will visit Wilkes University at 1 p.m., while women's soccer heads to Moravian University for a 6 p.m. kickoff. Both teams earned their postseason opportunities with strong finishes to the regular season and will look to advance to the conference semifinals.

Field Hockey: No. 6 Susquehanna at No. 3 Wilkes | Saturday, 1 p.m.

• The Susquehanna field hockey team enters the Landmark Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed after finishing the regular season with a 7-12 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play. The River Hawks will travel to Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon to face the No. 3 Colonels in the opening round, with a semifinal berth on the line.
• Susquehanna is making its eighth consecutive Landmark Conference Tournament appearance and 13th overall. The River Hawks have captured three Landmark Conference championships in program history and will look to begin another postseason run with a road victory over a familiar conference opponent.

Building Momentum for the Postseason

• The River Hawks enter tournament play following a strong finish to the regular season, closing with back-to-back shutouts to secure their place in the six-team tournament field. That defensive momentum will be an important asset as Susquehanna prepares for the challenge of postseason competition.
• Goalkeeper Taytum Lombardi has anchored the defensive unit throughout the season, helping the River Hawks limit opposing scoring opportunities. The team's recent defensive performances demonstrate its ability to remain organized and disciplined, qualities that will be especially important in a single-elimination tournament.
• Offensively, Jada Thompson leads the Susquehanna attack, while Kiara Koeller has provided important scoring contributions. The River Hawks will look to both players to help generate opportunities against a Wilkes team that has established itself as one of the conference's top contenders.
• Creating sustained pressure in the attacking third, capitalizing on penalty corners and converting scoring chances will be key priorities for Susquehanna. With the stakes heightened in postseason play, taking advantage of opportunities around the cage could prove decisive.

Scouting the Colonels

• Wilkes enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed after a strong regular season that earned the Colonels home-field advantage for Saturday's matchup. The program is making its third Landmark Conference Tournament appearance since joining the league in 2023 and will look to build on last season's semifinal appearance.
• Maddie Karp leads the Wilkes offensive attack, with Taylor Bower and Lydia Keppel providing additional contributions. Goalkeeper Chloe Gilroy anchors the defensive unit and will be an important presence as the Colonels look to contain Susquehanna's attacking players.
• The matchup presents a significant challenge for the River Hawks, who will need to balance their defensive responsibilities with an aggressive approach going forward. Establishing possession, limiting Wilkes' scoring opportunities and maintaining composure in high-pressure situations will be essential.

The Road Ahead

• Saturday's winner will advance to the Landmark Conference semifinals on Tuesday, November 3, where the winner of the Susquehanna-Wilkes matchup will travel to face No. 2 seed Catholic University at 7 p.m.
• For the River Hawks, a victory would extend their season and provide an opportunity to compete for a place in the conference championship game. With postseason experience, a defense coming off consecutive shutouts and an established offensive presence, Susquehanna will look to carry its late-season momentum into Saturday's contest.

Women's Soccer: No. 6 Susquehanna at No. 3 Moravian | Saturday, 6 p.m.

• The Susquehanna women's soccer team secured its place in the Landmark Conference Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Goucher College on Wednesday evening, finishing the regular season with a 10-5-3 overall record and a 3-3-3 mark in conference play.
• The win secured the No. 6 seed for the River Hawks, who will travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday to face No. 3 seed Moravian University in the opening round. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the conference semifinals.
• Susquehanna's postseason berth marks the program's 11th Landmark Conference Tournament appearance and second consecutive trip to the tournament. The River Hawks will look to build on their late-season performance as they pursue their second Landmark Conference championship, having captured the title in 2018.

River Hawks Finish Strong to Clinch Postseason Berth

• Susquehanna enters the tournament with momentum after delivering a dominant performance against Goucher to close out the regular season. Despite controlling the match throughout the first half, the River Hawks needed to wait until after halftime to find the breakthrough.
• Kate Adelman opened the scoring at 48:56, finishing a chance assisted by Maesie Baker. Nicole Freiler added an insurance goal at 55:40 set up by Caroline Slunt, giving Susquehanna a two-goal advantage that it maintained through the final whistle.
• The River Hawks finished with a commanding 35-1 advantage in shots and a 16-1 edge in shots on goal. Susquehanna also earned 10 corner kicks while holding Goucher without one, demonstrating its ability to consistently pressure the opposing defense.
• Adelman and Freiler each recorded their second goal of the season in the victory, while Baker contributed an assist. Ava Billmeyer led the River Hawks with seven shots, including four on goal, and Adelman added six shots with four on target.
• The performance showcased Susquehanna's attacking depth and ability to generate scoring opportunities from multiple players. That offensive pressure will be important against a Moravian squad that has been one of the conference's stronger teams throughout the season.

Offensive Leaders and Defensive Stability

• Amelia Kopp and Ava Billmeyer have been key contributors to the Susquehanna attack this season, providing the River Hawks with important offensive options as they prepare for the postseason.
• The ability to create chances, stretch the opposing defense and finish opportunities will be critical against Moravian. Susquehanna will look to build on its attacking performance against Goucher while maintaining the patience and composure needed in a postseason setting.
• At the other end of the field, goalkeeper Katie Henchy has anchored the River Hawks' defensive effort. Henchy recorded one save in Wednesday's shutout victory, while the defensive unit limited Goucher to just one shot throughout the contest.
• Maintaining that defensive organization will be essential against a Moravian team that has enjoyed a productive regular season. Susquehanna will need to limit dangerous opportunities, communicate effectively and remain disciplined throughout the match.

Scouting Moravian

• Moravian enters the Landmark Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed after finishing the regular season with a 10-4-2 overall record and a 6-3 mark in conference play.
• The Greyhounds have demonstrated a balanced offensive attack throughout the season, led by Lilyanna Potts, with additional contributions from Maddy Marretta and Mackenzie Schreiber. Reagan Bleiler has also been an important contributor, while goalkeepers Caitlyn Philips and Addy Tally have helped provide defensive stability.
• Moravian will have the benefit of playing at home after earning the third seed, making Saturday's matchup a challenging road test for the River Hawks.
• Susquehanna will need to combine the offensive pressure it displayed against Goucher with a disciplined defensive performance to advance. Winning possession battles, limiting Moravian's opportunities in the attacking third and capitalizing on chances near goal will be important factors in determining the outcome.
• The two teams will compete for a place in the conference semifinals, where the winner will travel to face No. 2 seed the University of Scranton on Wednesday, November 4, at 7 p.m.

Opportunity to Extend the Season

• For Susquehanna, Saturday represents an opportunity to carry the momentum of its regular-season finale into the postseason. The River Hawks have reached double-digit victories and secured another Landmark Conference Tournament appearance, setting the stage for a meaningful late-season challenge.
• With an experienced defensive presence in Henchy and multiple attacking options in Kopp, Billmeyer, Adelman and Freiler, Susquehanna will look to put together a complete performance against the Greyhounds.
• A road victory would send the River Hawks into the semifinals and bring them one step closer to competing for the Landmark Conference championship.

Looking Ahead

• Both Susquehanna programs enter Saturday's opening round with the same objective: extend their seasons and earn a place in the Landmark Conference semifinals.
• Field hockey will rely on its defensive momentum and attacking leaders against Wilkes, while women's soccer looks to build on its dominant regular-season finale against Moravian.
• With conference championship opportunities at stake, the River Hawks will look to make the most of their postseason chances on Saturday.