SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) -- Catawba no longer will field a women's field hockey team.
The Division II school cited scheduling problems and rising travel costs Tuesday as reasons why it dropped its oldest women's sport, effective immediately.
Catawba had just three home games this season and had trouble scheduling games on its grass home field. Artificial surfaces are preferred in field hockey, and school officials say a turf field would cost more than $500,000.
Also, there aren't enough Division II schools in the region that sponsor the sport to form a conference.
Athletic director Dennis Davidson says "it no longer makes financial sense" to sponsor the sport. School president Craig Turner says the players' scholarships would be honored if they remain enrolled.
