The 2026 field hockey season kicks off with a high‑profile double‑header for Liberty University’s women’s team, the Lady Flames.
A Rankings‑Driven Start
Ranked No. 8 in the preseason national poll, Liberty enters the year as one of the most anticipated programs, having captured the BIG EAST title in 2025 and riding a streak of eight straight season‑opening victories.
On Friday and Saturday, the Lady Flames travel to Orono, Maine, where they will meet the No. 15 UMass Minutewomen and the Maine Black Bears at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
Both opponents bring contrasting narratives: UMass arrives after a 16‑4 record and a historic Final Four run, while Maine, though lacking recent tournament success, will look to leverage home‑field advantage on its own turf.
Key Returners and Expectations
Liberty’s roster retains nine of the eleven starters from last year’s championship squad, highlighted by unanimous Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Dara Semmartin and unanimous Goalkeeper of the Year Diane Saint Martin, who together anchored a defense that excelled in assists and win‑loss percentage.
The team’s 2025 campaign also saw top‑20 finishes in ten statistical categories, with Semmartin topping the conference in assists per game and Saint Martin ranking fourth nationally in goalie win‑loss percentage.
Looking ahead, Liberty will confront seven preseason‑ranked opponents, including No. 2 North Carolina, No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Duke, No. 10 Miami (Ohio), No. 11 Connecticut, No. 15 UMass, and No. 20 Saint Joseph’s, setting the stage for a demanding but potentially rewarding schedule.