Players of the Week
Co-Player of the Week
Jimena Loustalot (D'Youville)
So., M, Tandil, Argentina, San Jose/Lincoln Memorial University
Jimena Loustalot delivered a two-goal performance to lead D’Youville to a historic 2-1 victory over Mercy, the Saints’ first win over the Mavericks in program history and first ECC victory of the season. Loustalot scored the game-tying goal early in the fourth quarter before converting a penalty stroke with just over a minute remaining to give D’Youville the lead and ultimately the victory. She finished with six shots, including five on goal.
Co-Player of the Week
Gabby Croniser (Roberts Wesleyan)
Jr., F, Camden, NY, Camden
Junior Gabby Croniser had a monster week for Roberts as she scored all three goals for the team in two games last week. She had both Redhawks goals in the 4-2 road loss to Mansfield and then notched the overtime game-winner in a 1-0 win at Dominican in the first ECC game in school history.
Defensive Player of the Week
Caroline Pitarra (D'Youville)
So., M/D, Dallas, Pa., Dallas
Caroline Pitarra played a key defensive role in D’Youville’s historic 2-1 victory over Mercy, helping the Saints earn their first win over Mercy in program history and their first ECC victory of the season. Pitarra recorded a defensive save in the first quarter to help keep Mercy off the scoreboard, contributing to a defensive effort that allowed D’Youville to rally from a 1-0 deficit and secure the program-defining win.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Avery Richardson (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sr., GK, Syracuse, NY, Cicero-North Syracuse
Senior Avery Richardson had a double-digit saves effort with 11 stops in a road loss to Mansfield in the midweek game. The total increased her career saves total to 500. She then made five stops in a 1-0 overtime victory at Dominican over the weekend as Roberts won the first ECC game in school history.
Rookie of the Week
Alexis Caldwell (Molloy)
Fr., F, Shirley, NY, William Floyd
In the opening weekend of ECC play, Caldwell recorded the first multi-goal game of her collegiate career, scoring twice on three shots in the 4-0 over St. Thomas Aquinas.
Weekly Honor Roll
Kayla Monique Lipscomb (Molloy)
Sr., GK, Lindenhurst, NY, Lindenhurst Senior
Kayla Monique Lipscomb recorded a career-high 24 saves against Adelphi in a non-conference match up. Lipscomb then shined in the opening weekend of East Coast Conference play against St. Thomas Aquinas, where she was forced to make only three saves for her first career shutout.
Mary Catherine Maloney (Roberts Wesleyan)
Jr., D, Boyertown, PA, Boyertown
Junior Mary Catherine Maloney seemed to be all over the field in both games last week. After a key injury to a defensive teammate forced her to cover more territory in the Mansfield game, she was instrumental in the defensive shutout effort in overtime against Dominican in the 1-0 road win with several take-away plays deep in the Roberts defensive zone.
Katie Ogurick (Molloy)
So., F, Massapequa, NY, Massapequa
Katie Ogurick recorded one goal and a career-high three assists against St. Thomas Aquinas in the opening weekend of conference play. She contributed to all four Molloy goals, with assists on both of Alexis Caldwell’s goals, and one on Sarah Minelli's before scoring the fourth goal herself.
Catherine Sasso (Molloy)
Jr., D, Islip Terrace, NY, East Islip
Catherine Sasso recorded two defensive saves against Adelphi, matching her career high and tying the program record for career defensive saves. She was a key defensive player in the shutout against St. Thomas in the first conference match up in the East Coast Conference.
Hallie Villavechia (D'Youville)
Sr., GK, Houston, Texas, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart/University of St. Thomas
Hallie Villavechia helped D’Youville secure a historic 2-1 victory over Mercy, making five saves on six shots on goal while playing all 60 minutes. Villavechia made key stops throughout the contest to keep the Saints within striking distance after Mercy took a 1-0 lead, allowing D’Youville to rally for its first win over Mercy in program history and its first ECC victory of the season.
2026 ECC Field Hockey Weekly Award Winners
Player of the Week
Sep. 8 – Makena Tooley (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 15 – Charlotte Sabert (Mercy)
Sep. 22 – Kate Lynne Conklin (Mercy)
Sep. 29 – Jimena Loustalot (D'Youville)
Oct. 6 – Jimena Loustalot (D'Youville) (2x) and Gabby Croniser (Roberts Wesleyan)
Defensive Player of the Week
Sep. 8 – Mary Catherine Maloney (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 15 – Catherine Sasso (Molloy)
Sep. 22 – Gwendolyn Smith (Mercy)
Sep. 29 – Rowynn Pickering (D'Youville)
Oct. 6 – Caroline Pitarra (D'Youville)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Sep. 8 – Sarah Reifsnyder (D'Youville)
Sep. 15 – Avery Richardson (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 22 – Kaylise McClure (Mercy)
Sep. 29 – Hallie Villavechia (D'Youville)
Oct. 6 – Avery Richardson (Roberts Wesleyan) (2x)
Rookie of the Week
Sep. 8 – Rowynn Pickering (D'Youville)
Sep. 15 – Addison Shantal (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 22 – Addison Testa (Mercy)
Sep. 29 – Rowynn Pickering (D'Youville) (2x)
Oct. 6 – Alexis Caldwell (Molloy)
2026 ECC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Mercy - 33 points (3 first-place votes)
2. Roberts Wesleyan - 29 points (3 first-place votes)
3. D'Youville - 20 points
4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 18 points
5. Molloy - 15 points
6. Dominican NY - 11 points
***
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.