Field Hockey Slated Fifth in MAC Freedom Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Newtown, Pa.- The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026 field hockey season. The Marywood University field hockey team was chosen fifth with 39 points.

Stevens, who captured the MAC Freedom championship last season, received seven of the possible nine first-place votes and totaled 63 points to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. The Ducks enter the 2026 campaign seeking its fourth consecutive MAC Freedom championship after claiming the conference title in each of the last three seasons.

Misericordia, last season's MAC Freedom runner-up, was picked fourth with 40 points. The Cougars were joined in the top five by DeSales, which finished second with 53 points, and Lebanon Valley, which collected 51 points and two first-place votes to finish third.

Marywood, making its debut season in the MAC Freedom, was picked fifth with 39 points.

Delaware Valley was selected sixth with 29 points, followed by Arcadia with 23 points. FDU-Florham earned 18 points to place eighth, and King's rounded out the poll with eight points.

The Pacers concluded the 2025 season with an 11-10 overall record and went a perfect 4-0 in Atlantic East Conference play. Marywood captured its second consecutive AEC title a year ago and will look to carry that momentum into its first season in a new conference.

Julie Trott enters her seventh season as the head coach of the program. Despite graduating some key seniors from last year's squad, Marywood has some strong returners on this year's roster. The Pacers return two of their all-conference honorees from last season in Brooke Barwick and Whitney Berge, who earned Atlantic East first and second team honors, respectively.

Marywood opens the season on the road at SUNY New Paltz on Tuesday, Sept. 1, while their conference opener is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 7 at home against Lebanon Valley.

The full preseason order: Stevens (63 points, 7 first-place votes), DeSales (53), Lebanon Valley (51, 2 first-place votes), Misericordia (40), Marywood (39), Delaware Valley (29), Arcadia (23), FDU-Florham (18) and King's (8).

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Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Barwick: F/M; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Whitney Berge: M/B; 5' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Barwick
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: F/M

#4 Whitney Berge
: 5' 0"; Sophomore
: M/B

Marywood University Pacers

Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Barwick

#4 Whitney Berge

Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Barwick

#4 Whitney Berge