GRANTHAM, Pa. – With the 2026 Messiah Field Hockey season beginning on Tuesday, September 1, check out the 2026 season preview below.
2025 Season Recap
The Messiah field hockey team finished with an 11-8 overall record and a 6-1 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons finished as MAC Commonwealth Runner-Ups after being defeated 1-0 by the Mustangs of Stevensaon University.
Roster Outlook
The Falcons bring a strong mix of returners and new faces, including a pair of transfer players. Messiah's offense looks to continue strengthening last season's performance as the Falcons return every goal scorer from the 2025 roster. Senior
Aubrey Clark returns to the top of the offense as the leading goal scorer from 2025 with
Ellie Lefever also looking to create opportunities at the front.
Olivia Zaskoda made her presence in the midfield known with three multi-goal games and will continue to look to make an impact this season. The largest shift on the field for the Falcons will come in the defensive zone after graduating two of their starting three defenders, including All-American
Lillian Peters. The Falcons will look to incoming defenders to fill the roles, including senior transfer
Taylor Wielechowski. Messiah will have a familiar face in goal, with
Joy Lippert returning to the cage for her junior season.
2026 Schedule Preview
Messiah will open the season at home on Tuesday, Sep. 1, when they host Dickinson College at 7:00 p.m. on Anderson Field. Johns Hopkins will make the trip to Grantham on Saturday, Sept. 5 for a 1:00 p.m. match-up. The Falcons will then play five of their next six games on the road, hosting William Smith at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Messiah will open MAC Commonwealth conference play during Homecoming weekend, hosting newest Commonwealth Neumann at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. They Falcons will conclude the regular season with road games at York on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Albright on Saturday, Oct. 31.
2026 MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Stevenson University - 61 (6)
T2. York College - 55 (2)
T3. Messiah University - 55 (1)
4. Hood - 38
5. Widener - 36
6. Alvernia - 32
7. Neumann - 20
8. Eastern - 19
9. Albright - 8
