Postseason NCAA field hockey continues into the weekend

The GIST: When it rains conference tourneys, it pours, and field hockey’s also splashing into the postseason this week. The overachieving ACC started early, and the non-stop fockey continues ’til the sun sets on the weekend. Whew.

The ACC: The ACC’s opening round went as expected last night, with the higher seeds winning all three games. But there’s no rest for the wicked winners: In tonight’s semifinals, No. 2–seed Duke faces No. 3–seed Louisville, and No. 4–seed Virginia has an even steeper hill to climb: top-seeded UNC, who’s well-rested thanks to a first-round bye.

The Big Ten: Every single one of the Big Ten’s seven contenders is ranked, which means tomorrow’s quarter-finals are truly unpredictable. Expect old guard No. 3–seed Maryland vs. up-and-comer No. 6–seed Iowa to be extra intriguing, as they’re neck-and-neck in the national poll.

• But no matter who survives tomorrow, the path to the ’ship runs through No. 1–seed Northwestern, who have a bye into Friday’s semis and seem unstoppable.

The mid-majors: The American East tourney kicks off tomorrow, and it’ll likely lead to a compelling grudge match between No. 1–seed UMass Lowell and No. 2–seed Albany this weekend. At the same time, the A-10 also starts bullying, but top-seed St. Joseph’s is expected to tear through that bracket like they did the regular season.

• Same and same for No. 1–seed Liberty in the Big East starting on Friday. But over in the Ivy League, top-seed Harvard and No. 2–seed Cornell could make things interesting this weekend. Time to fock it up.