Liberty’s sixth straight preseason crown
In the latest BIG EAST Field Hockey coaches' poll, Liberty emerged as the unanimous preseason favorite, collecting 36 points and six first‑place votes. The result marks the program’s sixth consecutive year atop the poll, underscoring its sustained dominance in the conference.
UConn followed in second place with 31 points and a single first‑place vote, while Old Dominion claimed third with 23 points. Behind them, Villanova sat fifth with 18 points, and the standings continued with Providence and Georgetown rounding out the early rankings.
Honoring the standout players
The preseason awards recognized several key figures from Liberty’s roster. Ava Borkowski earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, Bo Martina was selected Midfielder of the Year, and Dara Semmartin captured Defensive Player of the Year. Goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin was named Goalkeeper of the Year, completing a sweep of the conference’s top individual accolades.
Each awardee brings a proven track record from the 2025 season. Borkowski led the Wildcats with nine goals, 18 points and 37 shots, earning First Team All‑BIG EAST and academic recognition. Martina posted career highs of 22 points, nine goals and four assists, securing First Team All‑BIG EAST and NFHCA honors. Semmartin set a program record with 16 assists, garnering BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and NFHCA Second Team All‑America nods. Saint Martin posted a 17‑3 record, a program‑best 0.88 goals‑against average and eight shutouts, earning Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Preseason All‑BIG EAST Team featured four unanimous selections — Semmartin, Saint Martin, Martina and Serena Langendoen — highlighting the conference’s depth and the anticipation surrounding the upcoming campaign.
Season play is slated to begin on August 28, with BIG EAST conference matches kicking off on September 18, promising a competitive start to the year.