The field hockey team heads into Friday’s Atlantic Ten Conference Tournament at Saint Joseph’s in an unfamiliar position. For the first time in school history they have been crowned as the regular season conference champions. This means that the Owls (15-5, 6-1) hold the No. 1 seed for their first round matchup against fourth-seeded Saint Joseph’s (10-8, 4-3).

Last season, a 2-1 regular season overtime loss to Saint Joseph’s bumped the Owls to the fourth seed in the tournament and an eventual loss to Richmond. This year the Owls’ consistency has them riding a six-game win streak into the postseason.

Senior forward Alli Lokey, who leads the conference with 18 goals, looks to continue her remarkable year and guide the Owls to their first A-10 championship since 1994. Lokey was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Thursday. Ashley Bird, another senior, garnered A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Also aiding the campaign is sophomore forward Dannah Brehm, who sizzled with three goals in the Owls’ 4-2 season finale win over the Hawks. The feat earned Brehm A-10 Player of the Week honors.

The Owls are 19-8 all-time against the Hawks, but know how difficult it is to eliminate the host team from the playoffs. Last season they were knocked out of the tournament courtesy of a 2-1 overtime loss to the host Spiders.

The tournament begins at 11 a.m. on Finnesey Field with the Owls facing the Hawks, and continues at 2 p.m. as second-seeded Massachusetts (11-8, 6-1) takes on the No. 3 Richmond (6-12, 5-2). The two winners will meet in the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m.

With a pair of weekend wins, the Owls will reach their first NCAA Tournament since 1992. One or less wins and the team will anxiously wait to see if they are awarded an at-large bid.