CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - UC Davis is one of four institutions that will join the America East Conference as an associate member for field hockey starting next season. California, Pacific and Stanford are the other three schools that will join the Aggies and compete against America East's five full members that sponsor field hockey - University at Albany, University of Maine, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. 

UC Davis, California, Pacific and Stanford are current NorPac Field Hockey Conference members and will depart following the 2014-15 academic year.

"We are excited to add these four elite institutions as America East associate members for field hockey," said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. "This will add depth to a sport that is already one of our strongest, preserve our automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and reinforce our commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs and championships." 

The initial associate membership agreement with the four NorPac institutions will last for two years - the 2015 and 2016 seasons. During this timespan, the America East will boast two field hockey divisions; current America East members will comprise the East Division, the four associate members joining the league will compete in the West Division.

Four teams from each division will advance to the America East Field Hockey Championships; the 2015 tournament will take place on the east coast with a west coast school slated to host the league's playoff in 2016. The winner of each event will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship.

"As coaches, we want our conference to be as strong and as competitive as possible," said Maine head coach and America East coaches chair Josette Babineau. "The addition of these four programs will allow our conference to be even more competitive nationally and compete with the other large conferences and result in more of our programs having success in the NCAA tournament."

Founded in 1979, the America East Conference consists of nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont. The conference sponsors championships in 18 sports, including field hockey, and 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.

Fairfield University, which has been an America East associate member in field hockey since 2007, begins play in the MAAC starting next season.

Now competing in its final season as a NorPac member, UC Davis will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 18, when the Aggies head south to Stockton to face the Pacific Tigers for the second time in as many matches. This rematch will start a 3:30 p.m., links for a free video stream and live stats are available at ucdavisaggies.com.