LATHAM, N.Y. – Defending champion St. Mary’s College of Maryland has been selected as the favorite in the 2026 United East Field Hockey Preseason Poll after receiving five first-place votes and 46 total points. 

Penn State Harrisburg earned the remaining three first-place votes and finished just one point behind St. Mary’s with 45 points. New affiliate member Immaculata University ranked third with 34 points.

St. Mary’s College (MD) enters the season seeking its third consecutive United East championship. The Seahawks went 4–0 in conference play and finished 13-6 overall last fall, capturing the regular-season title before defeating Penn State Harrisburg, 1-0 in double overtime, in the championship game. St. Mary’s advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship, where its season concluded against Dickinson College in the opening round.

Allyson Osborne served as the Seahawks’ interim head coach during the championship campaign before being retained as the program’s permanent head coach in May 2026.

“I am most excited about the mesh between our newest players’ energy and our veteran leadership to guide them along the way,” Osborne said. “Our fans can expect the team to push the pace of the game and play through every whistle.”

St. Mary’s will be led offensively by junior Olivia Schwendeman, who scored four goals in 11 appearances last season. Junior goalkeeper Sophia Kent also returns after posting an 11-5 record and a 1.38 goals-against average. Kent did not allow a goal during conference play and earned Second Team All-Conference honors.

“Our keys to success in pursuing the United East championship will be the trust and culture built off the field,” Osborne said. “Family, hard work and excellence drive every player on our team to support each other, demand greatness from each other and play for each other as we compete as a team.”

Penn State Harrisburg was selected second after finishing 13-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play last season. The Lions advanced to the United East championship game after recording a 4-0 semifinal victory over Wilson before falling to St. Mary’s in double overtime.

Junior Sadie Cook returns to lead the Harrisburg offense after recording eight goals and eight assists last season. Cook earned First Team All-Conference honors, while returning goalkeeper Macenzie Mulholland also landed on the First Team after posting a 0.97 goals-against average and making 52 saves.

Immaculata will begin its first season as a United East field hockey affiliate member after going 7-13 overall and 2-2 in Atlantic East Conference play last fall. The Mighty Macs return junior Alexis Andrada, who recorded 12 goals and one assist for 25 points in 2025. Andrada earned First Team All-Atlantic East honors for the second consecutive season.

Gwynedd Mercy University and Wilson College tied for fourth in the poll with 26 points apiece. Gwynedd Mercy joins Immaculata as a new affiliate member after finishing 2-14 overall and 0-4 in Atlantic East play last season. Senior defender Lillie Uttenreither returns after earning Second Team All-Atlantic East honors in 2025. Wilson finished 2-2 in United East play last season before advancing to the conference semifinals. 

Cedar Crest College ranked sixth in the preseason poll with 18 points after finishing 3-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play last season. Lancaster Bible College followed in seventh with 17 points. The Chargers went 3-13 overall and 1-3 in conference play before advancing to the United East semifinals. 

Keystone College rounded out the poll in eighth with 12 points. The Giants will return to competition in 2026 after pausing their field hockey program for the 2025 season.

The complete 2026 United East Field Hockey Preseason Poll is listed below.

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The United East boasts 13 NCAA Division III full-member institutions: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wilson College. For more information, visit gounitedeast.com.