Wake Forest Field Hockey’s Freshman and Seniors Shine on National Watchlist
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association has announced its Division I Collegiate Watchlist, and this year five Wake Forest Demon Deacons have earned a spot on the list, underscoring the program’s growing prominence.
Among them, junior forward Lena Keller returns for her third season after a bronze‑medal performance with Germany at the EuroHockey U21 Women’s Championship, while teammate Mia Montag, a senior defender, was honored as the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and collected First Team All‑ACC and NFHCA All‑South Region accolades.
Sophomore midfielder Reabetswe Phume, who burst onto the scene as ACC Freshman of the Year and started every game in her debut campaign, joins the watchlist as a testament to her rapid development.
Senior captain Ava Moore, recognized with First Team All‑ACC and Second Team NFHCA All‑South Region honors, logged the third‑most minutes of any Deac last season, and senior forward Mia Schoenbeck capped the season with ACC Offensive Player of the Year and a call‑up to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2026 FIH World Cup.
The Demon Deacons enter the 2026 schedule ranked No. 7 nationally and will open with home matchups against No. 11 Iowa and No. 14 Michigan as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, games that will stream on ACCNX.
Coach’s staff expects the blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent to translate into a strong defensive core and an aggressive offense, positioning the team for a deep run in both conference play and the national tournament.