IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata field hockey team is in the final days of preparation for the 2026 season as the Mighty Macs prepare for another season under 12th-year Head Coach Kate Copskey. Copskey is joined by returning assistant coaches Meredith Katona and Layne Kennedy, while Stephanie Saxton-Walls joins the staff as an assistant coach for 2026.
 
Immaculata has been hard at work since returning to campus on August 20 and used one preseason contest to prepare for the upcoming season.
 
New Beginnings
 
For 2026, Immaculata field hockey will compete in a seven-team United East-Atlantic East partnership after Keystone announced it will not field a team this season. The Mighty Macs will play six conference games, with the top six teams advancing to the United East Championship.
The partnership serves as a transition to Immaculata's full move to the United East. On July 1, 2027, all Immaculata athletic teams will officially join the United East, along with the three remaining Atlantic East institutions as the Atlantic East Conference dissolves.
 
Preseason Overview
 
The Mighty Macs were picked third in the 2026 United East Conference (UEC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 34 points.
 
Immaculata finished third in the AEC standings in 2025 with a 2-2 conference record. The Mighty Macs earned the third seed in the AEC Tournament before falling to Neumann, 2-1, in a hard-fought AEC Semifinal. The appearance marked Immaculata's fourth straight trip to the AEC Semifinals. The Mighty Macs finished the 2025 season with a 7-13 overall record.
 
Immaculata will open the season at home on Wednesday, September 2, when it hosts FDU-Florham at Draper Walsh Stadium at 6 p.m. This marks the second straight season the two teams have met in their season opener, with Immaculata defeating FDU-Florham, 3-1, in Madison, N.J., last season.
 
Roster Check
 
Immaculata returns 17 players from last season, including five seniors, four juniors, and eight sophomores. The Mighty Macs also return three of their four All-Atlantic East Conference selections from 2025.
 
Junior forward Alexis Andrada (Maple Shade, N.J. / Maple Shade) led Immaculata in scoring for the second consecutive season with 12 goals and 25 points, earning All-AEC First Team honors for the second time in her career. Sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Schrack (Red Lion, Pa. / Red Lion) earned six of Immaculata's wins and recorded three shutouts to earn All-AEC First Team honors. Sophomore defender Maria Freeman (Southampton, Pa. / Council Rock South) recorded one goal and three assists while helping anchor the Immaculata back line in her first season, earning All-AEC Second Team honors.
 
Immaculata will look for leadership from its seniors, including forward Maria Berenato (Hammonton, N.J. / Hammonton), who scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at Manhattanville; midfielder Olivia DiBona (Havertown, Pa. / Bonner & Prendie), who appeared in 19 games; defender Natalie Dodd (Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan), who registered two defensive saves in 2025; midfielder Kayla Ledbetter (Bucks County, Pa. / Neshaminy), who appeared in 11 games and recorded one assist; and forward Alexa Marczak (Hatboro, Pa. / Upper Moreland), who appeared in 17 games and recorded one goal and one assist.
 
In addition to Andrada, returning juniors include forward Gigi Fox (Hammonton, N.J. / St. Joseph Academy), who appeared in 19 games and scored her first collegiate goal in overtime to lift Immaculata to a 3-2 victory over Gwynedd Mercy and clinch an AEC playoff berth; defender Bailee Neitz (Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury), who appeared in 11 games and recorded one defensive save; and midfielder Sydney Saxton (Coatesville, Pa. / Coatesville), who appeared in 15 games and recorded two shots, including one shot on goal.
 
In addition to Schrack and Freeman, Immaculata's sophomores include Morgan Barnes (Newark, Del. / Newark Charter), who appeared in 16 games with four goals, three assists, and 11 points; Taylor Eagan (Drexel Hill, Pa. / Bonner & Prendie), who appeared in all 20 games and recorded one goal; forward Bri Kolodij (Feasterville Trevose, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan), who appeared in three games; midfielder Malana Merlino (Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan); goalkeeper Ella Miller (Mount Joy, Pa. / Donegal), who appeared in 10 games and earned a win in a combined 5-0 shutout of King's College; and Samari Rodriguez (Philadelphia, Pa. / Bonner & Prendie), who appeared in four games and recorded one goal.
 
Welcome to the Team
 
The Mighty Macs welcome an incoming class of eight freshmen who will look to make an impact during the 2026 season.
 
The eight-member freshman class includes forward Victoria Dadino (Delran, N.J. / Holy Cross Prep), goalkeeper Annamae Jones (Coatesville, Pa. / Coatesville), defender Emma Kramer (Drexel Hill, Pa. / Upper Darby), midfielder Erin McClements (Clifton, Va. / Flint Hill), forward Ava Mendez (Bristol, Pa. / Bristol), defender Rachael Pace (Brookhaven, Pa. / Sun Valley), forward Emme Smith (Riverton, N.J. / Cinnaminson), and forward Audra Sommer (Whitehall, Pa. / Whitehall).
 
Season Outlook
 
Immaculata will face a challenging nine-game non-conference schedule featuring FDU-Florham, King's, Eastern, Marywood, Bryn Mawr, Lebanon Valley, Delaware Valley, Arcadia, and Widener.
The Mighty Macs will begin their inaugural campaign in the United East Conference on October 2 when they visit Penn State Harrisburg. Immaculata will host Cedar Crest for its first UEC home game on October 15 at Draper Walsh Stadium.
 
The United East Conference will feature seven teams in 2026, with six teams advancing to the UEC Tournament.
 
The Mighty Macs open the season on Wednesday at Draper Walsh Stadium against FDU-Florham at 6 p.m.
 
To see the entire 2026 schedule, click here.