LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a week break, Bellarmine field hockey returns to the pitch for a busy weekend to start the month of October.

The Knights host Longwood at Trager Stadium on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in their third MAC contest of the season.  On Sunday, Bellarmine welcomes Division I newcomer Queens for a non-conference showdown beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday also marks Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day.  Bellarmine will honor 39 faculty and staff members prior to the match.

The Knights come in off a 3-1 loss to Miami Ohio last Friday and are tied for third place at 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference.  Bellarmine was tied with the Redhawks leading into the final moments of the first half of last week's game, but a consistent wave of penalty corners helped Miami Ohio pull away.  The Knights will attempt to win their second conference game this season on Saturday.

Amber Hofenk Jerembo scored Bellarmine's only goal against the defending MAC champion and leads the Knights with six goals this season – good for second place in the MAC.  Hofenk Jerembo also tops the Bellarmine charts in shots (22), ranking fifth in the conference.  Bente Moormann leads Bellarmine and ranks fifth in the MAC with three assists, while Grace Dukes ranks second in the country with six defensive saves this year.

Longwood enters with a 2-7 record and 0-2 mark in the MAC.  The Lancers have lost four straight games, with both conference losses coming by one goal to Ball State and Ohio. Longwood's two victories this season came against Queens (3-1) and Davidson (1-0).  The Lancers handled Bellarmine last season 6-0 in Farmville and finished the season 10-7 (4-3 MAC).  This year, Longwood was picked to finish fourth in the MAC pre-season poll.  Maroussia Walckiers is Longwood's top scorer with three goals this season.

Queens (0-7) is currently playing in its first season in Division I and still searching for its first DI win.  After scoring four goals in their first three games, the Royals have been held scoreless over the last four.  Queens has played two MAC opponents thus far, losing to Longwood 3-1 and Ohio 2-0.  In their final season in Division II, the Royals played in the South Atlantic Conference and posted a season record of 7-12 in 2021.  So far this year, freshman forward Sydney Smith has scored a team-best two goals.

Both games this weekend can be viewed on BU Knights Sports Network.

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