COLONIA, N.J. – Mercy has been voted as the top team in the inaugural 2026 ECC Field Hockey Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's six head coaches. The combination of Mercy’s Charlotte Sabert and Roberts Wesleyan’s Mary Catherine Maloney were named Preseason Co-Players of the Year.
Mercy received 33 points and three first place votes to lead the poll after playing in the NE10 since 2019. The Mavericks went 4-8 in the NE10 last season and 5-12 overall, nearly qualifying for the NE10 Championship. Mercy most recently made the postseason in 2023.
Roberts Wesleyan totaled 29 points and the final three first place votes, coming in second place. The Redhawks have played independently since beginning their field hockey program in 2023, going 7-8 last year. Roberts had notable victories over D'Youville, Mercy, Molloy, and St. Thomas Aquinas in 2025.
D’Youville was voted third in the poll, collecting 20 points. The Saints began their program in 2024 and have played independently since their inception. Through two seasons, D’Youville has won seven total games and has logged wins over ECC programs such as Molloy, Roberts, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Rounding out the poll was St. Thomas Aquinas (18), Molloy (15), and Dominican New York (11).
Sabert is a junior forward from Mohegan Lake, N.Y. She appeared and started in all 17 games for Mercy in 2025. Sabert scored eight goals and recorded three assists for 19 points. She led the Mavericks with 67 shots and 46 shots on goal, while ranking second on the team in goals and points.
Maloney is a junior defender hailing from Boyertown, Pa. She started in all 15 games for the Redhawks last year and led all Roberts field players in minutes played with 866. Maloney added five shots, with three shots on goal. Additionally, she was selected Second-Team All-East Region by the National Field Hockey Coaches of America in 2025.
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
Co-Players of the Year
Charlotte Sabert - Mercy
Mary Catherine Maloney - Roberts Wesleyan
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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.