The America East coaches’ preseason poll for field hockey has pegged the University at Albany as the team to beat in 2026, projecting the Great Danes to share the top spot with Vermont.
Both programs earned 21 points in the voting, while UMass Lowell follows in third with 16 points, setting a clear hierarchy at the top of the conference.
Key Players to Watch
The poll’s all‑conference team features three standout Great Danes: senior Pilar Lorenzini, sophomore Jette Kurz and veteran goalkeeper Merla Vaandrager.
Lorenzini burst onto the scene with a six‑goal stretch that included a hat trick, while Kurz contributed four goals in the America East quarterfinal against Bryant, placing her among the league’s most prolific scorers.
Vaandrager, a two‑time all‑conference selection and the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year, anchored a defense that captured the 2024 conference championship, giving the team a proven last line of defense.
The coaching staff believes the mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent positions the squad to translate preseason expectations into on‑field success.
Behind the top three, Maine, New Hampshire and Bryant are positioned fourth through sixth, separated by five points, indicating a tightly contested middle of the pack.
Overall, the preseason outlook suggests a competitive season where the Great Danes will look to convert early poll momentum into actual conference titles.