2026 Field Hockey Season Preview

8/24/2026 5:00:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Va. - The Old Dominion Athletic Conference released its 2026 Field Hockey Preseason Poll, and Washington and Lee field hockey team was picked second in the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league on Monday afternoon. The Generals received two first-place votes and 56 points, trailing only defending conference champion Lynchburg, which earned seven first-place votes and 63 points.

Shenandoah followed closely in third with 52 points, while Randolph-Macon (41 points) and Bridgewater (36 points) rounded out the top five. Roanoke was selected sixth with 29 points, followed by Batten (23), Sweet Briar (13) and EMU (11).

2026 ODAC FIELD HOCKEY COACHES' POLL

University of Lynchburg (7) 63 pts.
Washington and Lee University (2) 56 pts.
Shenandoah University 52 pts.
Randolph-Macon College 41 pts.
Bridgewater College 36 pts.
Roanoke College 29 pts.
Batten University 23 pts.
Sweet Briar College 13 pts.
EMU 11

LINK: ODAC PREVIEW RELEASE

In 2025, Margaret Scheurer '28 led the Generals with 11 goals and 26 points while adding four assists, 83 shots, 41 shots on goal and three game-winning scores.

NATIONAL POLL

The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll will be released on Tuesday, August 25. This section will be updated following the announcement of the preseason rankings.

The poll provides a weekly snapshot of the nation’s top-performing programs based on results, strength of competition and voting by NFHCA member coaches. Beginning after the second week of regular-season competition, teams must maintain a .500 record or better to be eligible for consideration. The rankings are released each Tuesday throughout the season and have no bearing on selection for the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

The Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll is voted on by NFHCA member coaches and has no bearing on selection to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

For more information, visit the FHCA DIII Coaches Poll.

Coach Gina Wills enters into her 12th season with a 71-16 ODAC and a 137-62 overall record.

The team has brought great energy into preseason, and what’s most exciting is how intentional they have been in competing, communicating and holding one another to a high standard. We have a solid mix of experienced players who understand what it takes to compete at a high level, along with first-year players who are ready to step in and contribute.

Our team is connected, striving to grow, and willing to do the little things for one another. Our focus is on improving every day and building the habits that will define who we are throughout the season.

Head Coach Gina Wills

Madeline Lancione '29 and teammates celebrate her game-tying goal against No. 14 Franklin & Marshall to push the Generals into overtime during the regular season.

2026 Washington and Lee Field Hockey Season Preview

The Washington and Lee University field hockey team is ready to open the 2026 season with a challenging non-conference slate, a competitive ODAC schedule, and plenty of opportunities for fans to support the Generals both in person and online.

VIEW W&L's FIELD HOCKEY SCHEDULE

Non-Conference Slate

The Generals open the season at home against Christopher Newport on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. W&L then travels to Dickinson for a noon contest on Saturday, Sept. 5 before facing Catholic and St. Mary’s (Md.) during a two-game road weekend on Sept. 12-13.

W&L returns to Lexington for three consecutive home contests, beginning with Johns Hopkins on Saturday, Sept. 19 at noon. The Generals then host Mary Washington under the lights on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. before welcoming Rowan to W&L Turf Field on Sunday, Sept. 27 at noon.

The non-conference schedule concludes with a road contest at Meredith on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

ODAC Schedule

Washington and Lee begins conference play with a key home matchup against Shenandoah on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. The Generals then play consecutive road contests at Roanoke on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. and Eastern Mennonite on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.

W&L returns home to face Sweet Briar on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. before hosting Bridgewater for Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. The Generals follow with road contests at Randolph-Macon on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and Lynchburg on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.

The regular season concludes at home against Batten University on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

Postseason Schedule

The six-team ODAC Tournament begins with quarterfinal games on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, followed by the conference championship on Saturday, Nov. 7. Game locations will be determined by tournament seeding.

The NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship begins with first-round action on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 14-15. Hobart and William Smith Colleges will host the national semifinals on Friday, Nov. 20 and the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 22 at McCooey Field in Geneva, New York.

W&L returns four All-ODAC selections to the 2026 roster including three of six 2025 NFHCA All-Region VI selections

2025 Team Statistics

Washington and Lee finished the 2025 season with a 14-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in ODAC play and ended the season . The Generals outscored their opponents 61-22 while averaging 3.21 goals and 21.0 shots per game.

W&L held a 399-158 advantage in total shots, placed 218 attempts on goal and generated 157 penalty corners compared with 88 by its opponents. The Generals also recorded 36 assists and 72 saves during the season.

2026 Returning Production Offensive Leaders

Washington and Lee returns several of its leading offensive contributors from 2025, including three of its top five players in points, goals, shots, shots on goal and game-winning goals, as well as four of its top five assist leaders.

Margaret Scheurer and Madeline Lancione headline the returning group after both earned First Team All-ODAC and First Team NFHCA All-Region VI honors last season. Scheurer led the Generals with 11 goals and 26 points while adding four assists, 83 shots, 41 shots on goal and three game-winning scores. Lancione made an immediate impact during her rookie campaign, recording 10 goals and four assists for 24 points. Her three game-winning goals came against Randolph-Macon, nationally ranked Lynchburg and Roanoke in the ODAC quarterfinals.

Margaret Cover also returns after producing four goals and a team-high seven assists for 15 points. Senior midfielder Zoe Dolfis contributed four goals and four assists while ranking among the team leaders with 40 shots, 23 shots on goal and two game-winning scores. A two-time Second Team All-ODAC honoree, Dolfis earned Second Team NFHCA All-Region VI recognition in 2025 after starting all 19 contests and playing a pivotal two-way role in the Generals’ transition game and penalty-corner units.

Anne Burns Fiveash provides additional experience in the midfield after earning Third Team All-ODAC honors in each of the past two seasons. She started all 19 games in 2025 and contributed two assists.

Senior defender Elaina Bellone enters the 2026 season as a team captain after starting 18 of the Generals’ 19 contests and recording one defensive save in 2025. The Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, native has established herself as a leader on the field, in the classroom and throughout the W&L community.

A biology major and education minor, Bellone has earned CSC Academic All-District recognition and has been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad three times. She is also a two-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction, a two-time Academic All-ODAC honoree and a three-time W&L Scholar-Athlete. Her additional academic achievements include recognition on the President’s List.

Away from the field, Bellone serves as president of W&L’s Brain Exercise Initiative Club and is a member of the Reformed University Fellowship Leadership Committee. She also volunteers with Campus Kitchen and tutors through the Rockbridge Regional Library. During the summer, Bellone worked as a research intern with the Medical University of South Carolina’s Head and Neck Oncology Department.

Bellone attended The Bryn Mawr School, where she lettered in field hockey all four years and served as team captain in 2022. She played club field hockey for H2O.

Senior forward Margaret Cover enters the 2026 season as a team captain after appearing in all 19 contests for the Generals in 2025. The Chattanooga, Tennessee, native recorded four goals and a team-high seven assists for 15 points, including one game-winning goal.

A business administration and French double major, Cover has been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad three times. She is also a three-time Academic All-ODAC honoree and a three-time W&L Scholar-Athlete.

Outside of field hockey, Cover works as a group exercise instructor and volunteers with Downside Up, Inc. and Campus Kitchen. She spent the summer of 2025 interning with Lakeland Capital after working with Southern Soul Yoga during the summer of 2024.

Cover attended Girls Preparatory School, where she lettered in field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, squash and track. She earned First Team All-Conference honors in field hockey and lacrosse, helped her soccer team capture the 2022 Tennessee state championship and graduated cum laude. She played club field hockey for Atlanta Field Hockey Club.

Senior midfielder Zoe Dolfis enters the 2026 season as a team captain following another decorated campaign in 2025. The Fairfax, Virginia, native started all 19 contests and totaled four goals and four assists for 12 points, including two game-winning goals. She earned Second Team NFHCA All-Region VI honors and was selected to the ODAC All-Tournament Team.

Dolfis is a two-time Second Team All-ODAC honoree and a two-time NFHCA Second Team All-Region selection. Academically, Dolfis has been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad three times, earned NFHCA Scholar of Distinction recognition and is a two-time Academic All-ODAC honoree and three-time W&L Scholar-Athlete.

A business administration major with minors in data science and film and visual culture, Dolfis is involved with Morgan’s Message, 24 and the National Panhellenic Council. She operates a private field hockey lesson business for local youth players and previously volunteered as a coach with the Burke Athletic Club. During the summer of 2025, she worked as a digital marketing intern with Cobble Hill.

Dolfis attended Robinson Secondary School, where she captained the field hockey team in 2021 and 2022 and earned letters in field hockey, tennis and track and field. She was a two-time all-state and all-region selection and a three-time all-district honoree. Dolfis also earned the school’s Excellence in Journalism Award, received an IB Diploma and was awarded the John Symons Scholarship. She played club field hockey for Rampage Field Hockey Club.

How to Watch

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is in year two of a five-year media rights agreement with FloSports ensures that all ODAC and W&L home contests will stream live on FloCollege with a subscription. Games will also be available on demand immediately for all subscription holders and new for the 2026-27 year, for free, on FloCollege, 24 hours after their conclusion on FloCollege.com.

FloSports/FloCollege can be accessed through the FloSports app or on major streaming platforms, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast which provides access to FloSports’ full library of more than 40,000 events across 25 sports. Subscriptions can be purchased here.

Admission to regular-season home games is free, while ODAC semifinal and championship games and any NCAA postseason contests will require paid admission regardless of host institution.

Fans planning to attend should review W&L’s tailgating and parking operations HERE.

Ehrensbeck, 2026 New Hire graphic - Field Hockey

Emily Ehrensbeck was added to the Generals staff to join Wills on the sideline this fall.

Washington and Lee University Head Field Hockey Coach Gina Wills added Emily Ehrensbeck as an assistant coach for the Generals field hockey program and began her appointment in June, 2026.

Ehrensbeck joins Washington and Lee after serving as a Professional Academic Advisor for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado since 2025, where she also is pursuing a master's degree in Sports Administration. In her current role, she works closely with undergraduate students through advising, retention and academic support initiatives, including creating individualized degree plans, assisting with enrollment decisions and connecting students with campus support resources.

Prior to her role at Northern Colorado, Ehrensbeck spent four years at Washington College, serving as both an assistant field hockey coach and Academic Athletic Liaison. During her tenure with the Shorewomen, she assisted with practice planning, game-day operations, recruiting, film analysis and player development, while also coordinating camps and clinics, organizing recruiting visits and managing team travel and program marketing efforts.

Ehrensbeck helped develop eight All-Centennial Conference selections during her time at Washington College, including three Scholar-Athletes of the Year, while leading recruiting efforts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition to her coaching duties, Ehrensbeck also served as Washington College's Manager of Game Day Operations and worked extensively with student-athletes on academic mentoring, tutoring coordination and academic recovery programming.

As a student-athlete at Washington College, Ehrensbeck was a standout dual-sport performer in both field hockey and women's lacrosse. A forward for the Shorewomen field hockey team, she totaled nine goals, five assists and 23 points across 69 career games and helped the program to five Centennial Conference Tournament appearances combined as a player and coach. She earned Shorewoman of the Week honors in 2017 and was twice named the Goose Nation TV Shorewomen Player of the Game.

A 2019 graduate of Washington College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Ehrensbeck also earned All-Centennial Conference Second Team honors in women's lacrosse after a standout senior campaign in the midfield. During her prep career at Middletown High School in Delaware, she was a four-year letterwinner in both field hockey and lacrosse and received the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award.