No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan – 2 | No. 1 Mercy – 0
Mercy Field | Dobbs Ferry, NY
Box Score
 
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan (12-7, 8-2 ECC) put on a defensive masterclass in a 2-0 shutout win over No. 1 Mercy (10-8, 8-2 ECC) on Saturday afternoon in the 2026 ECC Field Hockey Championship Final at Mercy Field in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The Redhawks become the first ECC Field Hockey Champion in conference history.
 
Just three minutes into the contest, Roberts Wesleyan had already landed a pair of shots on goal, but each were saved by Mercy goalkeeper, Kaylise McClure. The Redhawks continued to put pressure on the Mavericks defense, controlling the offensive pace in the first quarter. Roberts Wesleyan ended the quarter with four shots, four shots on goal, and three corners, while Mercy’s only shot came in the 14^th minute of action. All four of Roberts shots were saved by McClure.
 
Early in the second quarter, Mercy had back-to-back penalty corners in the 16^th minute, but the team failed to get a shot off. By halftime, the championship final remained scoreless, but on the box score, it was all Roberts Wesleyan. The shot chart was, 9-2 in favor of Roberts, with an 8-0 shots on goal advantage. Despite the imbalance in opportunities, no goals were scored by the Redhawks and McClure denied all eight shots for eight first half saves.
 
The defense ratcheted up in the third. Roberts Wesleyan remained on the attack with shots on goal in the 37^th minute by Ava Barker, (saved by McClure) and then following a flurry of penalty corner opportunities in 39^th minutes, with McClure once again making a save. Late in the quarter, Roberts would create another scoring chance and this time the Redhawks found the mark. Julia Lukasik got by two Mercy defenders and let off a shot from the right side of the shooting circle that scored in the 41^st minute of play.
 
In the fourth quarter, things remained the same for the Roberts Wesleyan defense and the Mercy offense. Trailing 1-0, the Mavericks did not register a single shot and with less than 15 seconds to play, Gabby Croniser scored the insurance tally to officially clinch the ECC Championship title for Roberts Wesleyan.
 
Roberts Wesleyan Notes

• The defense shined as Roberts Wesleyan held Mercy to two shots and zero on goal, which was highlighted by holding the Mavs to no shots in the entire second half.
• The Redhawks put on a clinic, outshooting the Mavericks 17-2 and dominating them with a 16-0 shots on goal difference.
• Roberts also had the slight edge in corners (8-6).
• Lukasik’s game-winning goal was her second tally of the fall.
• Croniser scored her eighth goal of the season, while leading the team with four shots, all of which were on goal.
• Makena Tooley took three shots, and two were on goal to follow.
• ECC Defensive Player of the Year, Catherine Maloney and Ashlyn Hermanofski both had two shots, and each of their shots were on goal.
• ECC Goalkeeper of the Year, Avery Richardson, played the full 60:00 minutes and recorded her eighth shutout of the season.
• In just its fourth season as a program, Roberts Wesleyan wins the inaugural ECC Field Hockey Championship and earns the conference’s first-ever automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
• During the postgame awards ceremony, Natalee Lawrence was honored as the 2026 ECC Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

 
Mercy Notes

• McClure was the top player for Mercy, making 14 saves in net, giving her a total of 24 saves over her two-game postseason.
• Offensively, Adrianna Taynor and Jamie Stella each recorded a shot.
• This was the first time in 2026 that an ECC opponent shutout Mercy.

 
Roberts Wesleyan earns the ECC automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Field Hockey Championship Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, November 15 at 8:00 PM on NCAA.com. First Round games begin on Saturday, November 21. 
 
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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.