IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Immaculata University women's soccer team is in the final days of preparation for the 2026 season as the Mighty Macs prepare for another competitive campaign under second-year head coach Seamus O'Connor. O'Connor will be joined by second-year assistant coaches Ken Prothero and Rebekah Cunningham.
Immaculata used a pair of preseason contests against Rowan College of Gloucester County and Drew University to prepare for the upcoming season.
Preseason Overview
The Mighty Macs were picked fourth in the 2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 16 points and one first-place vote.
Immaculata finished tied for fifth in the AEC standings in 2025 with a 3-4 conference record. The Mighty Macs narrowly missed the conference tournament after Gwynedd Mercy earned the final spot by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Immaculata finished the season 4-10-1 overall.
The Mighty Macs will open the 2026 season at Draper Walsh Stadium on Tuesday, September 1, when they host Rutgers-Newark. The contest will mark the first meeting between the two programs in women's soccer.
Roster Check
Immaculata returns 16 players from last season, including three seniors, five juniors and eight sophomores.
Immaculata will look for leadership from its seniors, including defender Sam Terry (Levittown, Pa. / Conwell-Egan), who appeared in all 15 games last season, recording two goals and two assists. Senior midfielder Mia Perrone (Sicklerville, N.J. / Sicklerville) also played in all 15 contests and recorded an assist in Immaculata's 1-0 victory over Neumann. Senior midfielder Natalene Clemson (Abington, Pa. / Abington) appeared in 10 games.
The returning junior class features midfielder Tori Andes (Townsend, Del. / Middletown), who appeared in 13 games, goalkeeper Addi Husenica (Toms River, N.J. / Toms River East), who played in two contests, defender Megan Kelly (Bordentown, N.J. / Notre Dame HS), who appeared in four games, defender Jocelyn Shuster (Springfield, Pa. / Springfield), who saw action in one game, and midfielder Addison Yackel (Maple Shade, N.J. / Maple Shade), who played in all 15 games and scored two goals.
The returning sophomores include goalkeeper Devan Cosgrove (West Chester, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan), who appeared in three games, and forwards Natalie D'Alfonso (Feasterville Trevose, Pa. / Nazareth Academy), who played in 13 games and scored two goals, and Lanie Gomez-Garcia (Cochranville, Pa. / Octorara), who appeared in 13 contests.
Midfielder Sophia Mazzotta (West Chester, Pa. / Bayard Rustin) appeared in nine games and recorded one assist, while forward Lily McGee (Lansdale, Pa. / North Penn) played in all 15 contests, scoring two goals and adding two assists, including the game-winning goal against Neumann.
Defender Marissa Sozzi (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) appeared in 13 games and added one assist, while forward Gracie Repici (Cape May Courthouse, N.J. / Middle Township) was a key offensive contributor after playing in all 15 games and recording three goals and four assists for 10 points.
Welcome to the Team
The Mighty Macs welcome an incoming class of seven freshmen and four transfers who will look to make an immediate impact during the 2026 campaign.
The transfer class includes senior midfielder Mackenzie Cash (Burlington, N.J. / Burlington City), who joins Immaculata from Neumann University; junior forward Flora Hernandez (Philadelphia, Pa. / Science Leadership Academy), who comes to IU from West Chester University; graduate defender Heather Russell (Columbus, N.J. / Northern Burlington), who transfers from Seton Hill University; and sophomore defender Gaby Zullo (Cinnaminson, N.J. / Holy Ghost Prep), who joins the Mighty Macs from Penn State Harrisburg.
The seven-member freshman class includes midfielder Liz Anderson (Blackwood, N.J. / Highland Regional), midfielder/forward Briana Carpinella (Sicklerville, N.J. / Paul VI), goalkeeper Ayana Jackson (Sicklerville, N.J. / Camden Catholic), defender Jessica Ochmanski (Mantua, N.J. / Clearview Regional), midfielder Avery Olesen (Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central), defender Sydney O'Loughlin (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford), and Jaylene Peebles (Haddon Township, N.J. / Haddon Township).
Season Outlook
Immaculata will face a challenging 10-game non-conference schedule that includes Rutgers-Newark, Stockton, Lebanon Valley, Notre Dame of Maryland, Widener, Cedar Crest, Delaware Valley, DeSales, Rutgers-Camden and Ursinus.
The Mighty Macs will begin their final season in the Atlantic East Conference on October 3 when they travel to Centenary. Immaculata will host Gwynedd Mercy on October 10 for its first AEC home contest of the season.
The Atlantic East Conference will feature six teams in 2026, with all six teams earning a spot in the Atlantic East Conference Tournament.
The Mighty Macs open the season Tuesday, September 1, at Draper Walsh Stadium against Rutgers-Newark. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
To see the entire 2026 schedule, click here.
