PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eastern Connecticut has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll, earning 45 points and four first-place votes.
Just five points separate the top three teams in the preseason poll, with defending LEC champion Keene State one point behind Eastern Connecticut and Southern Maine five points back, setting up another competitive race for the conference title.
2026 LEC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Institution – Points (First-Place Votes)
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Eastern Connecticut – 45 (4)
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Keene State – 44 (3)
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Southern Maine – 40 (1)
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Vermont State Castleton – 28
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Western Connecticut – 25
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Plymouth State – 21
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UMass Dartmouth – 12
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UMass Boston – 9
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Eastern Connecticut Tabbed as Team to Beat
Eastern Connecticut enters the 2026 season atop the preseason poll after finishing 12-9 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play last season. The Warriors captured the 2025 LEC regular season championship and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Eastern defeated Vermont State Castleton, 2-0, in the semifinals before falling to Keene State, 1-0, in the championship match.
The Warriors return First Team All-LEC forward Grace Barlage and Second Team All-LEC defender Katie Harrington, along with midfielders Jenna Boardman and Ada Ellis. Eastern will look to replace First Team All-LEC selections Emma Sanson and Angie Falleni, with newcomers Ava Martin, Sadie Tierney and Ella Rice among those who could step into key roles.
Defending Champion Keene State Close Behind
Keene State earned 44 points and three first-place votes after finishing 15-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play in 2025. The second-seeded Owls advanced to the LEC championship match after defeating Southern Maine, 3-2, in a shootout in the semifinals before blanking top-seeded Eastern Connecticut, 1-0, to capture their second consecutive LEC Championship and conference-record 16th tournament title. Keene State advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship, where its season ended with a first-round loss to Endicott.
The Owls return two-time Second Team All-LEC forward Meghan Daileanes, who recorded 11 goals and four assists for 26 points last season. Second Team All-LEC midfielder Grace Seabury also returns after totaling eight goals and nine assists for 25 points, while Belle Hemond started all 22 games and recorded three defensive saves. Emma Bazin added six goals and two assists during her first collegiate season. Keene State will look to replace a decorated group highlighted by First Team All-American and two-time LEC Offensive Player of the Year Grace Bazin.
Southern Maine Selected Third
Southern Maine was selected third with 40 points and one first-place vote after finishing 12-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play last season. The third-seeded Huskies advanced to the LEC Tournament semifinals, where their season ended in a 3-2 shootout loss to eventual champion Keene State.
The Huskies return First Team All-LEC forward Bri Townsend, who led the team with 12 goals and three assists last season, along with 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year Maddie Niles. Second Team All-LEC midfielder Dylan Barr also returns, while Leah Thibodeau, Jayla Gentry and Julia Elie add experience to the lineup. Southern Maine adds SNHU transfer Addie Battis, Husson transfer Isabel Folsom and Jenessa Foster, a 2024 Second Team All-LEC defender who led the conference in defensive saves. The Huskies will look to replace 2025 LEC Goalkeeper of the Year Eleanor Folsom and First Team All-LEC defender Jaigan Boudreau.
Vermont State Castleton Selected Fourth
Vermont State Castleton was selected fourth with 28 points after finishing 8-11 overall and 3-3 in LEC play last season. The fourth-seeded Spartans advanced to the LEC Tournament semifinals before falling to top-seeded Eastern Connecticut, 2-0.
Castleton returns Gwyn Vincent, a 2025 Second Team All-LEC forward, along with Peyton Richardson and Ava LaRoss. Richardson previously earned First Team All-LEC recognition in 2024 and Second Team honors in 2023. The Spartans will look to replace 2025 LEC Defensive Player of the Year Jess Smithson and goalkeeper Zoe Martin, both of whom were named to the NFHCA Watch List. Megan Wetmore and goalkeeper Bella Cosden are among Castleton's newcomers.
Western Connecticut Selected Fifth
Western Connecticut earned 25 points to place fifth after finishing 7-11 overall and 2-4 in conference play last season. The fifth-seeded Wolves qualified for the LEC Tournament before falling to Vermont State Castleton in the opening round.
WestConn returns midfielder Alyssa Montalvo, who scored eight goals last season, along with forward Jaelyn Moulton, who recorded six goals, and midfielder Andrea Moulton, who contributed five assists. The Wolves will look to replace First Team All-LEC selection Reagan Schoen, who led the conference with 11 assists, and Second Team All-LEC selection Miah Ruiz. Goalkeeper Brooklyn Testa and Madison Preston join the program as WestConn looks to build around its returning offensive core.
Plymouth State Rounds Out Projected Tournament Field
Plymouth State was selected sixth with 21 points after finishing 5-12 overall and 1-5 in conference play last season. The sixth-seeded Panthers qualified for the LEC Tournament, where their season ended in the opening round.
Plymouth State returns graduate forward Ellie Monahan, who has been one of the team's leading distributors in recent seasons, along with senior captain Sarah Adamske, who has ranked among the Panthers' top two scorers in each of the past three seasons. Abby Bsullak also returns as a senior captain, while goalkeeper Natalie Merrick is back after recording 179 saves and a .789 save percentage last season. The Panthers add All-State selections Elliana Wing and Avery Stowell to a nine-player first-year class as they look to replace leading scorer Katie Porrello and defender Kyla Napolitano, who ranked among the NCAA Division III leaders in defensive saves.
UMass Dartmouth and UMass Boston Complete Poll
UMass Dartmouth was selected seventh with 12 points after finishing 2-17 overall and 0-6 in conference play last season. The Corsairs return Second Team All-LEC selection Sophia Bouffard, who led the team offensively while also ranking among the NCAA Division III leaders in defensive saves. Goalkeeper Shane Cueman returns after earning LEC weekly recognition, while Carly Wang provides experience on defense. Madison Goldstein and MacKenna Scott join the Corsairs as newcomers.
UMass Boston rounds out the poll in eighth with nine points as the Beacons prepare for their first season of varsity field hockey. The new program will feature 11 incoming first-years, transfer talent and current UMass Boston student-athletes. Among the newcomers are Assumption ice hockey player Delaney Williams, who is expected to play midfield and defense, along with first-years Molly Fote and Kayla Mullin. The Beacons will look to develop chemistry and consistency as the program begins its inaugural campaign.