Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Charlotte Sabert (Mercy)
Jr., F, Mohegan Lake, N.Y., Lakeland
Sabert had a team-high three points on the week with a goal and an assist in two games. The junior opened the week with a goal at Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday, taking three shots with two on goal. She dished out an assist against Saint Michael's on Sunday to cap off the week.
Defensive Player of the Week
Catherine Sasso (Molloy)
Jr., D, Islip Terrace, NY, East Islip
Sasso recorded the Lions first two defensive saves of the year. The Owls generated an early scoring opportunity after being awarded a penalty corner in the opening 2:30 of play. Avery Vaccaro's shot was able to get behind goaltender Kayla Lipscomb, but Sasso's stick was there to make her first defensive save of the season and keep the contest scoreless. She added her second defensive save at the 42-minute mark to keep the deficit to four.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Avery Richardson (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sr., GK, Syracuse, NY, Cicero-North Syracuse
Senior Avery Richardson recorded a season-best 19 saves against nationally-ranked Pace University over the weekend as the high-scoring Setters were limited to four goals with one coming on a penalty stroke. She also had a pair of saves in three shutout quarters of an 8-0 win over Elmira.
Rookie of the Week
Addison Shantal (Roberts Wesleyan)
Fr., F/M, Morrisville, NY, Morrisville-Eaton
Freshman Addison Shantal recorded four points in two games last week. She handed out an assist in the 4-1 loss to nationally-ranked Pace over the weekend and added a goal and an assist in the mid-week victory over Elmira College.
Weekly Honor Roll
Madison Brefka (Mercy)
Jr., M, Cicero, N.Y., Cicero North Syracuse
Brefka scored a goal on two shots in Mercy's 3-2 loss to Saint Michael's on Sunday.
Katie Ogurick (Molloy)
So., F, Massapequa, NY, Massapequa
Sophomore Katie Ogurick recorded her first goal of the season at 23:40 on one shot in Molloy’s 6-1 game against Southern Connecticut State.
Sarah Reifsnyder (D'Youville)
Jr., GK, Pylesville, MD, North Harford
In the Saints lone matchup this week, they faced undefeated Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Reifsnyder only played the first 30 minutes of game action for the Saints and put up strong stats against a respectable IUP offense. Reifsnyder recorded 10 saves on 17 shots that kept the game at 3-0 going into half.
Gwendolyn Smith (Mercy)
So., M, Sound Beach, N.Y., Miller Place
Smith scored a goal on two shots in Mercy's 3-2 loss to Saint Michael's on Sunday.
2026 ECC Field Hockey Weekly Award Winners
Player of the Week
Sep. 8 – Makena Tooley (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 15 – Charlotte Sabert (Mercy)
Defensive Player of the Week
Sep. 8 – Mary Catherine Maloney (Roberts Wesleyan)
Sep. 15 – Catherine Sasso (Molloy)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Sep. 8 – Sarah Reifsnyder (D'Youville)
Sep. 15 – Avery Richardson (Roberts Wesleyan)
Rookie of the Week
Sep. 8 – Rowynn Pickering (D'Youville)
Sep. 15 – Addison Shantal (Roberts Wesleyan)
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.