'Cats Blank Billikens, Secure First A-10 Tournament Berth Since 2015

Friday, October 31

Davidson, NC

7 p.m.

Davidson College

(9-8, 3-3)

Saint Louis

(5-9, 1-5)

Saint Louis

Davidson

Photo by: Sophia Byrne/Davidson Athletics

'Cats Blank Billikens, Secure First A-10 Tournament Berth Since 2015

10/31/2025 10:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score www.davidsonphotos.com

Naaktgeboren's hat trick moves her into elite company in Davidson program history

By: Justin Parker, Senior Writer

DAVIDSON — As the final seconds ticked away like forgotten pieces of candy corn Friday night, the Davidson field hockey team had long since secured a 5-0 victory over Saint Louis, so there was little drama in the end result itself.

However, given that the win clinched the program's first postseason berth in a decade, there was a palpable buzz as the anticipation for a a special moment mounted. Kinda like a kid suiting up on Halloween night and ringing the first doorbell.

"It's funny," said Davidson coach Zoe Almquist, now in her seventh season. "You dream about a moment, and you don't really think about what you will do in that moment."

The Wildcats figured it out.

They erupted from the bench, rushed together for hugs, posed for photos and even shed some tears. They had done it — the win assured their spot in the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

"It's super emotional, but in a good way," said Almquist. "I keep thinking, 'try to bottle this moment, bottle this time,' because it's such a special group. I'm so excited that we get a little more time to play next week."

The Wildcats (9-8) finished the A-10 regular season 3-3 and earned the No. 4 berth in the four-team bracket. They will face top-seeded Richmond on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Richmond.

On Halloween night, reaching the A-10 postseason went from dream to reality.

"Each day they believe it a little bit more, and today it was just belief all the way through," said Almquist. "This is such a group effort. Every single person on this team plays a role and has contributed in getting us where we are. And I know we wouldn't be able to do it without the team behind the team and all of that support."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Davidson's Sib Naaktgeboren led the way, as she has throughout her standout senior campaign. In her final A-10 home game, she scored a hat trick, set the program's single-season points record (42) and tied the single-season goals mark (18).

Naaktgeboren scored with 2:26 left in the first quarter, then struck twice in a 3:06 stretch of the third. She tied the previous 39-point record (Finley Amato in 2010) with her second goal of the night, then surpassed that and tied the single-season goals record that has stood since 1980 (Cathy Inabnet).

Hannah Merritt scored the first goal of the night off a penalty corner just 4:06 into the contest, and Ava Mickel's putback goal with 2:14 left in the first half gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead at the break.

The Davidson defense and keeper Avery Foster (3 saves) kept the Billikens at bay and recorded the third shutout of the season (Longwood, UC Davis).

And now with nine wins for the first time since 2012, the Wildcats are moving on — after they face non-conference foe Queens on Senior Day Sunday afternoon.