2026 NEC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll                   1. Wagner (3)                 2. Quinnipiac (5)                 3. Sacred Heart (1)                 4. Rider                 5. LIU                 6. Stonehill                 7. Merrimack                 8. Mercyhurst                 9. New Haven                First place votes in parentheses

Bridgewater, NJ -- After three straight appearances in the NEC field hockey championship game, the league’s head coaches predicted Wagner to be the one hoisting the trophy come November.

The Seahawks received three first-place votes on their way to being named preseason favorites.

Making its return to the conference as an associate member, Quinnipiac was tabbed to place second in the preseason rankings after finishing with five tallies for the top spot. The final first-place vote went to Sacred Heart, which ranked third in the poll.

Rider and LIU rounded out the top five in that order with Stonehill ending up in sixth position. The final three spots were taken by Merrimack (seventh), Mercyhurst (eighth) and New Haven (ninth).

Wagner brings back a plethora of experience on a roster determined to bring an NEC title to Grymes Hill. Fourth-year head coach Aubrey Mytych welcomes back 2025 All-NEC Second Team selections Floortje Leunisse (Breda, Netherlands/Onze Lieve Vrouwe Lyceum) and Julia de Leeuw (Houten, Netherlands/College de Heemlanden), while adding another All-NEC performer through the transfer portal in former Saint Francis goalkeeper Mia DiGenova (King of Prussia, PA/Bishop Shanahan).

Leunisse, a senior midfielder, was an offensive catalyst for Wagner a year ago, ranking in the NEC top-10 in goals (nine), assists (six) and points (24), while netting a league-best five game-winning goals. DiGenova produced a conference-best 10 shutouts for the Red Flash along with earning three NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The senior joins sophomore defender de Leeuw, who registered three defensive saves a season ago, to anchor a formidable Green & White backline. Both Leunisse and de Leeuw were also named to the NEC All-Tournament Team a year ago.

Competing in NEC field hockey for the first time since 2012, the Bobcats are on the prowl to build on a rich history in the league. Quinnipiac has captured the NEC crown three times with its last title coming in 2003. Fresh off a 10-8 campaign in 2025, the Bobcats boast a young core poised to take the league by storm under the tutelage of fourth year skipper Nina Klein.

Going a perfect 3-0 against NEC foes in non-conference play a season ago, Quinnipiac is led by sophomores Rozemarijn Van Keulen (Naarden, Netherlands/Vituscollege) and Maaike van Wensen (Apledoorn, Netherlands). Van Keulan ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in points per game (1.25) last year, while van Wensen was honored as a BIG EAST Freshman of the Week in her debut campaign.

The Pioneers return a veteran squad this season, led by a pair of first team NEC all-stars in Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Brianna Cooper (Watertown, MA/Watertown) and midfielder Celia Benson (Sciutate, MA/Thayer Academy). Cooper conceded just 1.23 goals per game in league play, while Benson finished the year with four goals and two assists.

SHU is eyeing its third title in program history and first since 2023, returning three players from that championship squad.

In its second season as a NEC member, New Haven is now eligible for the conference postseason, but remains ineligible for the NCAA Tournament until it completes its DI reclassification. Mercyhurst also remains ineligible for NCAA postseason competition while completing its reclassification.

The 2026 NEC Field Hockey Championship will take place on November 5 & 7 at the Wagner Field Hockey Complex in Staten Island, NY. The tournament field will feature the top four teams in the league standings. This will mark the fifth time in the past six seasons that Wagner will serve as host of the NEC Field Hockey Championship.

About The NEC
Now in its 46th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 17 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.