Championship Race Results
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks reigned supreme yet again, winning the 2026 ECC Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday morning on its home course of Matt St. James Cross Country Trail in Rochester NY. The Redhawks clinched an unprecedented 12^th consecutive title, improving on their ECC all-time most record.
 
Roberts had total control of the race, finishing with a team score of 22 points and locking up half of the top-14 finisher spots, headlined by Individual Champion and ECC Most Outstanding Runner, Michaela Goettel who crossed the finish line in a 5k winning time of 18:43.0. Just behind Goettel was Redhawk teammate and ECC Most Outstanding Rookie, Giuliana Fodor who finished the race with an 18:44.0 time. Rounding out the team’s First Team selections were Paige Moore (5^th, 18:50.7) and Evelyn Schmit (6^th, 18:52.1). The Redhawks depth outside of the top seven, included Amelia Mickelson, (8^th, 19:02.4), Trista Webster (9^th, 19:03.8), and Veronica Brewer (12^th, 19:07.3).
 
D’Youville cashed in its best team performance since joining the ECC with its runner-up finish. The Saints tallied 76 points, led by Lilianna Peters (4^th, 18:49.2), earning All-Conference First Team honors. Elaina Williams (13^th, 19:09.8) was the second finisher from the Saints, earning Second Team recognition.
 
Coming in third place was Daemen, which scored 90 points. The Wildcats were led by Lia Brasacchio, (11^th, 19:06.3) on the All-Conference Second Team.
 
Staten Island’s Adriana Roa (3^rd, 18:45.5) delivered a standout race with her third place finish while Madison Chalfin (7^th, 18:57.8) of St. Thomas Aquinas also had a stellar run, each claiming All-Conference First Team honors. Rounding out the All-Conference Second Team were the Queens pair of Jordyn Cruz (10^th, 19:05.6) and Carly Koprowski (14^th, 19:21.6).
 
During the awards ceremony, it was announced that Roberts Wesleyan head coach Andrew Dorr earned 2026 ECC Women’s Coach of the Year honors. The achievement marked the 14^th straight year he has won the award.
  Women's Team Results
1. Roberts Wesleyan - 22 points
2. D’Youville - 76 points
3. Daemen - 90 points
4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 126 points
5. Molloy - 130 points
6. Queens - 137 points
7. Staten Island - 146 points
8. District of Columbia - 230 points

Women's Cross Country All-Conference First Team
Michaela Goettel, Roberts Wesleyan, 18:43.0
Giuliana Fodor, Roberts Wesleyan, 18:44.0
Adriana Roa, Staten Island, 18:45.5
Lilianna Peters, D'Youville, 18:49.2
Paige Moore, Roberts Wesleyan, 18:50.7
Evelyn Schmit, Roberts Wesleyan, 18:52.1
Madison Chalfin, St. Thomas Aquinas, 18:57.8

Women's Cross Country All-Conference Second Team
Amelia Mickelson, Roberts Wesleyan, 19:02.4
Trista Webster, Roberts Wesleyan, 19:03.8
Jordyn Cruz, Queens, 19:05.6
Lia Brasacchio, Daemen, 19:06.3
Veronica Brewer, Roberts Wesleyan, 19:07.3
Elaina Williams, D'Youville, 19:09.8
Carly Koprowski, Queens, 19:21.6
 
Women's Cross Country Individual Champion and Most Outstanding Runner - Michaela Goettel, Roberts Wesleyan
Women's Cross Country Most Outstanding Rookie - Giuliana Fodor, Roberts Wesleyan
Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year - Andrew Dorr, Roberts Wesleyan
Women's Cross Country Elite Award - Barbara Kunz, D'Youville
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Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: Daemen University (Amherst, N.Y.); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); D'Youville University (Buffalo, N.Y.); Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy University (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, N.Y.); College of Staten Island (Staten Island, N.Y.); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.). The ECC also is home to 13 associate members in the sports of women’s bowling (3), men’s and women’s indoor track & field (3), men's volleyball (2), field hockey (1), and men’s lacrosse (1).

The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; women's bowling; men’s and women’s cross country; field hockey; men’s and women’s lacrosse; men’s and women’s indoor track and field; men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; softball; and men's and women’s volleyball.
 
The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.