Their focus is rightfully on the task at hand rather than their places in history, but Massachusetts field hockey graduate student midfielders Claire Danahy and Izzy Acquaviva are set to accomplish something few former local stars have.

When the 14th-ranked Minutewomen (17-5) take the field in Ann Arbor, Mich., today for their NCAA Final Four matchup against No. 2 Northwestern at 3 p.m., it’ll be the program’s first appearance since 1992, and just the ninth ever for any of the commonwealth’s Div. I universities in the sport.

Since 2018, four players from here have started in the NCAA semifinals. Though, should Danahy (Chelmsford) and Acquaviva (Lincoln-Sudbury) start today like they have for much of the year, they’ll be the only two former local field hockey stars to do so for a local university in the NCAA Final Four in over 30 years.

Massachusetts natives representing a Massachusetts-based university, on the biggest collegiate stage in a sport historically dominated by athletes from elsewhere.

Cool, no?

“I don’t know,” Danahy said. “I think it’s cool.”

“I guess we haven’t really thought about that,” Acquaviva added. “It’s definitely a unique situation. I just have to thank my high school coach (Vicky Caburian) because she’s been there. From day one, she’s believed in me. I kind of was late to the game in terms of field hockey, so I think she really pushed me to be the best I can be.”

Regardless, fifth-year student-athletes Danahy and Acquaviva played critical roles for the Minutewomen in a dream season that saw them go unbeaten in Atlantic-10 play (7-0) until losing to St. Joseph’s in the A-10 championship game.

Acquaviva has filtered in and out of the starting lineup since her sophomore season, all while making the NFHCA National Academic Squad each year. Danahy has started in all but two games since freshman year, making a big scoring leap from last year’s seven points to lead UMass with 29 points (eight goals, 13 assists) this season.

Perhaps none of Danahy’s points were bigger than scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over No. 10 Harvard in the tournament’s quarterfinal round on Sunday. Acquaviva played 33 meaningful minutes against the Crimson in a game the Minutewomen often applied offensive pressure and controlled possession, and she played 39 minutes in a similar performance against third-seeded UConn in the first round.

“I’m so glad they decided to stay for their fifth year,” said UMass head coach Barb Weinberg. “They’re both in our leadership group. They’ve led this team unbelievably in their own way this season. I always find that in that fifth year, that experience is so key to a team’s success – just having played NCAA hockey for four-plus years and being able to step into game-winning moments and execute. You can’t ask for anything more.”

Neither necessarily envisioned this kind of a trip when they exercised their fifth year of eligibility, a trip that is a win away from the Minutewomen’s second NCAA Tournament championship appearance. Instead, they stuck around because they just didn’t want to leave.

“It’s just for the team,” Danahy said. “I love this team, I love the coaches. I wouldn’t be anywhere else but here.”

Part of what’s helped this tournament run was matching up with familiar foes in regional play, facing UConn and Harvard teams UMass narrowly lost to in the regular season. Northwestern is familiar, too, but ran over the Minutewomen 6-1 in the regular season, and has appeared in each of the last three NCAA Tournament championship games.

It’ll be a tough challenge. But as far as UMass is concerned, such a challenge is nothing new.

“It took a lot to get here, and I think that’s something I’m so proud of the team for,” Acquaviva said. “We lost the A-10 final, but we bounced back. … We’ve just faced so many challenges on and off the field, and our team is like a family. Everyone plays for each other at the end of the day.”

The game will stream on ESPN+ at 3 p.m.