LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Kutztown University field hockey team was selected as preseason favorite in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference’s coaches.
 
Kutztown (20-2 overall, 9-0 conference record), who made it all the way to the NCAA Division II semifinals before being ousted by eventual national champion Shippensburg, received seven first-place votes in the 2026 poll. The Golden Bears return three of their top four point scorers from a season ago, including Marissa Rice (14 goals, seven assists, 35 points tied for fourth-most in PSAC), Ellie Myers (11 goals, two assists), and Jessica Traynor (10 goals, two assists.) Also back is reigning PSAC Defensive Player of the Year Olivia Kirkpatrick and sophomore goalkeeper Tess Adolf, who led the conference in goals-against-average at .66 and was third in save percentage (.789) in her freshman season.
 
Defending NCAA and PSAC champion Shippensburg (20-3 overall, 6-3 PSAC) was voted No. 2 in this year’s poll. Returning players include McKenna Boyle (eight goals, four assists), Elaina Fragassi (eight goals, four assists), and Carme Caracotche Picone (six goals, three assists.) Picone, as well as another returner in senior Hannah White, were both voted Second Team All-Conference last fall, while Fragassi was named to the Third Team.

West Chester (14-7 overall, 6-3 PSAC) comes in at No. 3 in the 2026 poll with a single first-place vote. Returners include PSAC First Teamers Veerle Hersman (16 goals, four assists, third-most points in the conference) and back Gianna Funari (three goals, two assists) as well as Third Team honoree Sofia Brown (four goals, seven assists.)
 
East Stroudsburg, the No. 4 team in this year’s poll, finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 16-4 (7-2 PSAC.) Returning All-Conference players for the Warriors include First Teamer Elaiana Rivera-Iagalla (six goals, six assists) and Third Team back Bella Viruet (three goals.) Also back are Rylie McGrath (seven goals, three assists) and Maddie Moline (six goals, two assists.)

The remainder of the 2026 poll is rounded out by No. 5 Bloomsburg, No. 6 Millersville, No. 7 Mansfield, No. 8 IUP, No. 9 Frostburg State, and No. 10 Slippery Rock.
 
The 2026 field hockey season begins in full on Thursday, Sept. 3.
 
2026 PSAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
 
1. Kutztown (7)
2. Shippensburg (2)
3. West Chester (1)
4. East Stroudsburg
5. Bloomsburg
6. Millersville
7. Mansfield
8. IUP
9. Frostburg State
10. Slippery Rock