The Miami field hockey complex will host the nation’s largest single-venue intercollegiate tournament this season as six teams converge in Oxford from September 1-4 to compete in the Theresa Check Invitational. Miami welcomes fellow Division I institutions Saint Francis and Indiana as well as a trio of Division II schools with Maryville, Slippery Rock and American International all coming to Oxford. The event will feature six games over the four days as each school will play two games, offering both the Oxford community as well as the participating institutions the opportunity to see a number of different schools and programs, helping increase visibility for the sport. The Theresa Check Invitational is the first multi-divisional tournament since the NCAA final weekend of 2017 when the University of Louisville hosted the Division I, II, and III finals.

While Miami has hosted multiple three-team tournaments in the past, the addition of the second divisional format is the result of the efforts of Slippery Rock head coach Rayell Wallace, who served as Miami’s assistant coach from 2015-2019 and helped the RedHawks to win seven MAC Championships. Wallace approached Miami head coach Iñako Puzo with the idea, and Puzo readily supported the initiative.

“We are happy and proud to be hosting these five teams at Miami,” declared Puzo. “Our former assistant coach and very good friend Rayell [Wallace] came up with the idea more than a year ago and we immediately supported it.”

“This tournament accomplishes a number of things,” stated Wallace. “Not only does it provide a special atmosphere for Slippery Rock, Maryville and American International with the opportunity to play on AstroTurf, but also gives the three of us a tournament setting at a neutral venue, which is great preparation for us should we earn the right for post-season play.”

Miami head coach Iñako Puzo with then-assistant coach Rayell Wallace

The three Division II games feature three schools from three different conferences, with American International representing the Northeast-10 and Slippery Rock hailing from the PSAC, while Maryville is currently unaffiliated with a conference. The Saints are one of Division II’s newest teams, but Division II is also experiencing incredible growth with one school (Roberts Wesleyan) starting play in 2023 and two more schools beginning in 2024, with many others considering sponsoring the sport in upcoming seasons.

“Growing the game is crucial to the longevity and sustainability of the sport,” said Wallace, “and the Theresa Check Invitational will help with this mission through exposure as well as ease of travel.”

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Theresa Check Invitational at Miami,” said Rhonwen Peters, head coach of American International. “This will provide us the opportunity to play against two quality non-conference opponents and also watch some awesome field hockey games! It’s so much fun to attend events like this because it brings together a large group of people who have a mutual passion for the sport of field hockey. As we continue to grow the game, this event will showcase how our sport brings together people from all over the world to compete and connect.”

With Maryville currently one of only two Division II schools west of the Appalachians that sponsor the sport, the Saints experience some travel challenges as work continues to rebuild the profile of field hockey in the Midwest. The opportunity to play two games in Ohio not only cuts down on the travel for the program, but also serves as a chance to expose the school to be seen by many high school students from the region as the Ohio/Kentucky area continues its upward trend in participation at the scholastic level. Furthermore, the neutral site games provide Maryville, AIC and SRU a convenient way to enhance their student-athlete experience with new opponents in a non-traditional location.

“Our hope is to do our part in inspiring Midwest universities and conferences to see the incredible value of adding Field Hockey,” added Maggie Young, head coach at Maryville University.  “I believe strongly in the balance of school and sport that Division II supports. With field hockey growing at the high school level, it is crucial that we keep up with that growth at the collegiate level, particularly here in the Midwest.”

The Midwest is already a hotbed of hockey, with new opportunities popping up regularly. Oxford is in the center of it all, and the city is a popular location for major events like this. Oxford has hosted USA Field Hockey’s National Club Championship Regional Qualifying Tournament for each of the last three years, and events like this and the Theresa Check Invitational help raise the profile of the sport.

In addition, attendees to the tournament who are experiencing Oxford and the Miami campus for the first time will see “the most beautiful campus that ever was,” helping increase the visibility of Miami.

“Having Oxford hotel properties full of visiting hockey teams and their families and fans means guests dining in our restaurants, shopping in our stores, and enjoying our picturesque town,” said Kim Daggy, Executive Director of Enjoy Oxford. “Not only does the tax revenue benefit the community, but the exposure of this group to the charm and welcoming vibe of the community and locally owned, mom-and-pop type businesses gives them a reason to return or share their experiences with their friends and families.”

“We are looking forward for the opportunity to learn and have fun watching so many teams competing in Oxford,” commented Puzo. “Field hockey, and sports in general, have always brought people together. This kind of big field hockey event should take place more often.  I can assure my colleagues that any team will always be welcome at Miami.”

Puzo, who enters his 13^th season with Miami, is the fifth head coach in program history. The first head coach in the varsity era was Theresa Check, who led the Red + White in their inaugural season of 1974. The Theresa Check Invitational honors the pioneer who jump started the program with a 4-2 win over Ball State on October 9, 1974. The 2023 season marks the 50^th year that Miami has sponsored a varsity field hockey program, and it is fitting that as Miami field hockey celebrates 50 years of varsity competition in 2023, the milestone season also sees the program host a tournament that recognizes the depth and breadth of the sport and hopes to serve as a catalyst for further growth.

The RedHawks open up the Invitational against St. Francis on Saturday September 2 at noon as Miami will face the Red Flash for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in the last six years. That game will serve as Miami’s Youth Day as the RedHawks celebrate the youth in the area playing field hockey. Following Sunday’s contest between St. Francis and Indiana, Miami will play host to the Hoosiers on Monday, September 4. The game against Indiana will be a tribute to public servants as the RedHawks welcome representatives from area police, fire, and EMT departments as well as Miami’s ROTC divisions for Heroes Day. The game against Indiana is slated for a 1:00 pushback.