COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Bellarmine University field hockey team opens the 2026 season this weekend with a pair of challenging matchups at Buckeye Varsity Field, facing Old Dominion at 3 p.m. Saturday before taking on host Ohio State at 1 p.m. Sunday. 

Both contests will be played at Buckeye Varsity Field, with Sunday's matchup available on B1G+.  

About the Knights 

• Bellarmine enters the 2026 campaign after posting a 2-16 overall record and a 2-7 mark in Mid-American Conference play last season. The Knights were picked to finish ninth in the 2026 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Bellarmine returns a number of key contributors from a season ago while adding several newcomers, including transfer Amy Stripling. The sophomore midfielder/defender joined the Knights after spending her freshman season at Richmond, where she earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie honors after recording five goals and one assist in 17 appearances. Stripling also earned back-to-back A-10 Rookie of the Week honors during the 2025 season. 
• Stripling and junior midfielder/defender Luna Tuncay were both named to the 2026 NFHCA Division I Preseason Watchlist. The watchlist recognizes student-athletes with strong potential for NFHCA All-Region and All-American consideration, with both Knights representing two of the 14 MAC selections. 
• Tuncay returns after appearing in all 18 games and making 17 starts in 2025. She tied for the team lead with two goals and finished second on the team with nine shots on goal while leading the Knights with 21 total shots. 
• The Knights also return seniors Mia Booth, Reilly Casey, Brooke Buchanan and Ella Bonnell, along with juniors Anouk Richters, Dominique Hudson and Annie Malloy. Buchanan led Bellarmine with four assists last season, while Bonnell started all 18 contests. Junior goalkeeper Megan Clauser also returns.  
• Bellarmine's 2026 schedule features 18 regular-season contests, including nine MAC games and six home contests at Trager Stadium. 

Briefly on the Monarchs 

• Old Dominion returns 15 players from last season, including eight starters, while welcoming seven newcomers, including five first-year players and two transfers. Andrew Griffiths enters his 14th season at the helm of the Monarchs and owns a 139-96 record at Old Dominion. 
• The Monarchs were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after advancing to the conference tournament semifinals last season. Josie Painter and Serena Langendoen were selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. 
• Langendoen returns after recording 15 points on seven goals and one assist in 2025, while Painter tallied 12 points on six goals. 
• In goal, Suus Broers returns after recording 64 saves last season and entering 2026 with 166 career saves. 
• Old Dominion finished 8-10 overall and 5-2 in BIG EAST play in 2025. 

Briefly on the Buckeyes 

• The 2026 campaign marks the 56th season in Ohio State program history. The Buckeyes return 16 letterwinners from last season and welcome 10 newcomers. 
• Anne Marie Krebs, Philippa Schipper and Maddie Stevens each started all 18 games in 2025, while Raleigh Kerst, Victoria Kutz and Grace Dixon also appeared in every contest. In all, Ohio State returns 10 players who saw action in at least 15 games last season. 
• Krebs and Kerst both ranked among the Buckeyes' top four point scorers in 2025. Krebs recorded eight points and earned NFHCA Second Team All-West Region honors, while Kerst posted nine points during her freshman campaign. 
• Stevens returns for her second season in goal after playing all 18 games last year. She finished 2025 with a 1.76 goals-against average, a .656 save percentage and five shutouts. 
• Krebs, Emily Barker and Autum Kernechel were named 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch. 
• Jarred Martin begins his 10th season as Ohio State's head coach and owns a 92-75 record with the Buckeyes. 
• Ohio State finished 8-10 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play in 2025. 

Series History 

• Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between Bellarmine and Old Dominion. 
• Sunday's matchup will be the first meeting between the Knights and Ohio State. 

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