St. Joseph's Wins Sixth Straight A-10 Field Hockey Title

Erika Culp's eighth-round shootout goal gave St. Joseph's a 2-1 win over Richmond in the Atlantic 10 final.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Hockey

St. Joseph's Wins Sixth Straight A-10 Field Hockey Title

St. Joseph's field hockey defeated Richmond 2-1 in a shootout to win the Atlantic 10 tournament on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The title is the program's sixth consecutive conference championship and ties the conference record for most consecutive titles.

Why it matters

The win extends St. Joseph's dominance in the Atlantic 10 and secures its place in the NCAA tournament field. The team entered as the undefeated top seed after winning the regular season title.

The Atlantic 10 final was decided after the game remained tied through overtime and seven shootout rounds, with Erika Culp's eighth-round goal settling it. The title is St. Joseph's ninth in the past 10 years, and the NCAA seeding that will follow is not yet known.

The players

St. Joseph's field hockey

The Philadelphia-area program is a longtime Atlantic 10 power that has won nine of the last 10 conference championships.

Sam Brown

Brown was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for leading St. Joseph's to its sixth consecutive conference title.

Avianna Wagner

Wagner is the goalkeeper who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after making six saves in the final.

Erika Culp

Culp is the forward who scored St. Joseph's only regulation goal and the decisive eighth-round shootout goal.

The details

Erika Culp scored the team's only regulation goal in the second quarter to tie the game, and goalkeeper Avianna Wagner made six saves, including a stop on Richmond's shootout attempt, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Sam Brown was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.

Saturday, November 7, 2026: St. Joseph's wins the Atlantic 10 title over Richmond.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: NCAA tournament selection show.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: NCAA tournament opening round begins.
Friday, November 13, 2026: NCAA tournament first-round games.

Season Trajectory

St. Joseph's six straight Atlantic 10 titles tie the conference record Massachusetts set between 1996 and 2001. The result positions the program as the conference's dominant force heading into the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA tournament selection on Sunday determines St. Joseph's first-round opponent and location for the Wednesday opening round. Fans tracking the bracket will see the seeding decision shape the team's path through the tournament.

The takeaway

Consistency at the top of a conference is rare, and St. Joseph's six straight titles show what sustained program building can produce. Readers following college sports can watch how the team's seeding affects its NCAA run.

What happens next

St. Joseph's learns its NCAA tournament seeding and first-round opponent during Sunday night's selection show, with first-round games played Friday, November 13, 2026.