Watchlist Highlights
Liberty University’s field hockey program is making a splash ahead of the 2026 season, with six of its student‑athletes earning spots on the NFHCA Division I Watchlist and the team sitting at No. 8 in the preseason polls.
Junior defender Dara Semmartin has been crowned the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, a recognition that reflects her program‑record 16 assists and a ninth‑place national ranking in assists per game.
Sophomore goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin, a native of Paris, France, received unanimous preseason accolades as the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year after posting a 17‑3 record and a program‑best 0.88 goals‑against average as a freshman.
Offensive contributors Josefina Tomasi and Julieta Tornati also made the list, with Tomasi earning first‑team All‑South Region honors last year and Tornati being named to the Preseason All‑BIG EAST second team after a strong freshman campaign that yielded seven goals and five assists.
International presence is also evident, as Paris‑Gail Isaacs will fly the flag for South Africa at both the 2026 FIH World Cup and the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, while Clarisa Iudicello helped Argentina’s U21 side capture gold at the 2026 Junior Pan American Cup.
Liberty opens its 2026 schedule on Friday at noon against Maine, a matchup that will test the depth revealed by the watchlist selections.
The 2026 watchlist itself includes 211 student‑athletes from across Division I, underscoring the competitive landscape that awaits these Liberty standouts.