BOSTON, MA -  Monmouth University announced today that it will accept an invitation to the America East Conference in the sport of field hockey, effective for the start of the 2019 season.

"Monmouth is very excited about the opportunity to join the America East as an associate member in the sport of Field Hockey," commented Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil. "This is an excellent conference and we look forward to the challenging and very competitive environment that will be provided by the America East membership." 

"We are excited to add Monmouth University as an associate member in field hockey," said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. "Monmouth has built a nationally competitive field hockey program within our region and will be a great fit for our conference." 

"This is an exciting day for Monmouth Field Hockey," commented head coach Carli Figlio.  "We are very excited about the next chapter for the program.  It been a tremendous honor working and competing against the teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and we hope to carry our success into our new home with the America East beginning next season." 

Monmouth, which will begin the program's 22nd year of Division I competition this fall, has been a member of the MAAC since the 2013 season, earning four straight regular season titles, while making two NCAA Tournament appearances.  Prior to joining the MAAC, the Hawks spent 15 seasons in the Northeast Conference, winning the regular season crown in 2001. 

In the classroom, Monmouth has been recognized the ZAG Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic Squad for nine consecutive years.  During Figlio's 11 seasons, the Hawks have been represented on the NFHCA All-Academic team 116 times.  

Monmouth will join America East members University at Albany, University of Maine, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire and University of Vermont as the conference's field hockey-playing institutions beginning in 2019-20. The six teams will play a round-robin regular-season conference schedule with the top four teams in the standings qualifying for the America East championship, to be played at the No. 1 seed.

Monmouth, which will face future conference opponent Vermont in late September, will start its final season in the MAAC on August 24th at Saint Joseph's.

About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.

About Monmouth University: Monmouth is a private, mid-sized, coeducational, comprehensive University founded in 1933. It serves residential and commuter students in eight schools and is less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean on the Jersey Shore in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The 156-acre campus features 54 buildings, including historic landmarks and state-of-the-art facilities.