WINCHESTER, Va. — Shenandoah University Head Field Hockey Coach Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft has unveiled the 2025 regular season schedule as her team prepares to defend its 2024 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship.
Coming off a historic 19-3 season in which they went a perfect 8-0 in conference play, the Hornets are looking to build on a year that featured multiple milestones. In 2024, Shenandoah earned its second ODAC title, defeating Washington and Lee in the semifinal and Lynchburg in the championship game to secure the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets then made more history by winning the program's first NCAA Tournament game, defeating Westfield State before falling to national powerhouse Messiah in the second round.
The 2025 slate features 17 regular-season contests, including nine road games, six at Aikens Stadium, and two neutral-site matchups. The schedule is packed with high-level competition that will test the Hornets early and often as they look to return to postseason play. The opening weekend includes back-to-back games against DePauw and Denison, with both contests taking place at Denison University in Ohio. A pair of early home matchups against Washington College and Hood College follow before the Hornets embark on a six-game road swing that includes Mary Washington, Dickinson, and nationally ranked Salisbury — a team the Hornets defeated 1-0 in overtime last season.
October brings the bulk of the ODAC schedule, including a three-game homestand against Bridgewater, Lynchburg, and Washington and Lee — all of which finished in the top half of the conference standings in 2024. The Hornets will also travel to face Sweet Briar, Roanoke, Eastern Mennonite, and Virginia Wesleyan in key road contests that will shape the ODAC standings heading into the postseason.
This year's ODAC Tournament begins on November 4 with the quarterfinal round, followed by semifinals on November 6 and the championship game on November 8.
The 2025 schedule reflects Shenandoah's rising profile both regionally and nationally, with multiple games against previous NCAA Tournament participants and conference champions. The non-conference slate is particularly challenging, featuring top-tier programs from the Centennial and Coast-to-Coast Conferences, while the ODAC remains one of the most competitive leagues in NCAA Division III field hockey.
"We're excited for the opportunity to compete against such a strong group of opponents this season," said Coach Smeltzer-Kraft. "Our returners know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and our newcomers will be stepping into a culture of high expectations. This schedule will help us grow throughout the year and be ready when it matters most."
For the latest updates on Shenandoah Field Hockey, including schedule changes, scores, and highlights, visit suhornets.com and follow @suhornets on social media.
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