Latham, N.Y. – (8/18/2026) – As student-athletes arrive on campus for the fall sports seasons on the horizon, United East Conference (United East) Commissioner Stephanie Dutton has officially released the results of the
2026 Field Hockey Preseason Poll. With five of the eight available first-place votes and 46 total points, the reigning league champions, St. Mary's College of Maryland edged out 2025 Runner-up, Penn State Harrisburg (45 total points, 3 first-place votes) for the top spot in the standings forecast. Gwynedd Mercy University – a first-year member of the United East – tied Wilson College for fourth in the preseason poll with 26 total points.
Following the Seahawks and the Harrisburg Nittany Lions, the 2026 United East Field Hockey Preseason Poll ranked Immaculata University (34), the Griffins (26), the Phoenix (26), Cedar Crest College (18), Lancaster Bible College (17), and Keystone College (12).
Headlined by wins over Elmira College (W, 2-0 on Sept. 6) and Cedar Crest College (W, 1-0 on Sept. 17), and an All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Second Team selection for junior defender
Lillie Uttenreither (Bel Air, Md.), Gwynedd Mercy University's 2025 season concluded with a 2-14 overall record and a 0-4 league standing. Uttenreither totaled seven points (2 goals, 3 assists) and 18 shots, while fellow captain, senior forward,
Mackenzie Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Red and Gold offensively with 10 points (4, 2) and 42 shots. Junior,
Nikki Williams (Cinnaminson, N.J.) (1-10) played a majority of the goalkeeping minutes (741:53) and made 92 saves on 132 shots faced; she sported a .697 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.24 goals-against average (GAA).
The complete results of the
2026 United East Field Hockey Preseason Poll are available list below and available by using the provided links.
2026 United East Conference (United East) Field Hockey Preseason Poll
| Rank. Team |
Total Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1. St. Mary's College of Maryland |
46 |
5 |
| 2. Penn State Harrisburg |
45 |
3 |
| 3. Immaculata University |
34 |
|
| T4. Gwynedd Mercy University |
26 |
|
| T4. Wilson College |
26 |
|
| 6. Cedar Crest College |
18 |
|
| 7. Lancaster Bible College |
17 |
|
| 8. Keystone College |
12 |
|
