| Tournament: | 1981 NCAA Division I field hockey tournament |
| City: | Storrs, Connecticut |
| Venues: | Memorial Stadium |
| Dates: | November 14–22, 1981 |
| Teams: | 6 |
| Champions: | Connecticut (1st title) |
| Second: | Massachusetts (1st title game) |
| Matches: | 5 |
| Goals: | 15 |
| Previous Year: | 1980 (AIAW) |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
The 1981 NCAA Division I field hockey tournament was the first annual single-elimination tournament hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the national champion of women's collegiate field hockey among its Division I members in the United States, the culmination of the 1981 NCAA Division I field hockey season.
Connecticut won the first championship, defeating the Massachusetts in the final, 4–1.[1]
The tournament finals were played at Memorial Stadium at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut from November 14–22.
| Team | Record | Appearance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 10–2–4 | 1st | |
| Long Beach State | 8–1–2 | 1st | |
| Massachusetts | 16–0–2 | 1st | |
| 12–1–2 | 1st | ||
| Purdue | 12–5–5 | 1st | |
| San Jose State | 8–1–1 | 1st |