A very sad day for field hockey…  Stanford University announced today that it will cut it’s field hockey program following the 2020-2021 season (if it happens).

“In consultation with the Board of Trustees, we have made the decision to reduce the breadth of our athletics programs and staffing. Stanford will discontinue 11 of our varsity sports programs at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year: men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling. All of these teams will have the opportunity to compete in their upcoming 2020-21 seasons, should the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 allow it, before they are discontinued at the varsity level. Regretfully, 20 of our support staff positions are being eliminated as part of this realignment.”

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With this news, one would worry about the feasibility of Cal-Berkeley and UC Davis maintaining programs with only 2 teams in the state of California and in the West.