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INDIANAPOLIS – Suffolk women's ice hockey heard its name announced among the NCAA Championship field for the first time in program history Sunday night. 

With its sights now set on the national championship, Suffolk will face reigning NCAA Champion No. 8 Middlebury in the first round Wednesday, March 8. The game will be held at Chip Kenyon '85 Arena, in Middlebury, Vermont with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m.

Suffolk punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship when it defeated Endicott, 2-1, in the CCC Championship yesterday to capture the conference's automatic qualifier, one of seven AQ berths. The Rams clinched its first regular-season crown two weeks ago when they shutout Curry, 6-0, to wrap up the program's fifth varsity season. 

The Rams skate into the NCAA tourney with momentum on its side, having won three straight and five of its last seven. Suffolk has outscored its foes 20-11 over that span. This season, Suffolk compiled an 18-7-2 record, one win shy of the program record (19), which was set a year ago. 

One of the keys to the team's success this season has been its offensive output. Eighteen players have provided at least one point to the Rams' 81-goal offense, the 18th-best scoring unit in the nation at 3.00 goals per game.  

Suffolk's defense has also been a strength, as the Rams rank 13th in the NCAA DIII in goals allowed (1.46) and is 15th in the country in scoring margin (1.58). 

Under the leadership of Taylor Wasylk, women's hockey becomes the sixth Suffolk program to compete as a team at NCAAs in the University's history. Wasylk's squad is the first since the baseball team danced in 2018 and is the second-ever Rams' women's team to take part in the national championship field joining the 2007 women's tennis team.

The Rams will have their work cut out for themselves as they will face the defending NCAA Champion Middlebury, who currently sit eighth in the latest USCHO national poll. The Panthers gained entry to the 11-team field as one of four at-large bids after exiting the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament in the semifinals.  

The NCAA Tournament tilt will be the first-ever meeting between Suffolk and Middlebury.  

Suffolk will skate in one of three first-round games as the field expanded to 11 teams. The winners of Wednesday's action will advance to the one of four quarterfinals that are on tap for Saturday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. The semifinals will take place at one of the four remaining institutions on Friday, March 17 with the 2023 NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey Champion to be crowned on Sunday, March 19. All tournament games will be played on campus sites with the host for the final to be confirmed following the conclusion of quarterfinal play.   

Fans interested in purchasing tickets to the first-round game are encouraged to do so through the host institution, which will unveil more tournament information Monday, March 6. Fans can also stay up-to-date with all things Suffolk women's hockey by following the Rams' on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.