EMMITSBURG, Md. (January 30, 2026) – Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse earned a second place projection in the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason poll, off the heels of a 2025 MAAC Regular Season Championship. Senior defender
Hailey Chester and sophomore attack
Brooke Molchanoff were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
In the poll voted on the conference coaches, the Mount received 122 points for their runner-up projection. Defending MAAC Tournament champion Fairfield were named as the favorites, with Siena, Iona, and Niagara rounding out the top five.
Chester enters her fourth season as a mainstay among Mountaineers. A First Team All-MAAC selection in 2025, she ranked eighth in the league for draws per game, totaling 60 draw controls for the season. The senior from Greensboro, Maryland added 25 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers against only 11 turnovers. Chester stands seventh all-time on the Mount leaderboard with 147 draw controls across three years.
Molchanoff made the All-MAAC Rookie Team in her freshman campaign to set up the preseason nod in her sophomore season. With 37 points in 2025, she ranked third among Mountaineers last year – divided into 21 goals and 16 assists. The assist totals were second most behind
Mackenzi Furlong. Molchanoff added contributions beyond the offense, with 40 draw controls, 12 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
Mount St. Mary's finished with an 11-6 record and a 7-1 mark in the MAAC. The 2026 season opener is February 6 at home against Towson.
| 2026 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
143 (11) |
| 2 |
Mount St. Mary's |
122 |
| 3 |
Siena |
118 (1) |
| 4 |
Iona |
107 |
| 5 |
Niagara |
98 |
| 6 |
Quinnipiac |
87 |
| 7 |
Sacred Heart |
73 |
| 8 |
Marist |
58 |
| 9 |
Canisius |
52 |
| T10 |
Manhattan |
31 |
| T10 |
Rider |
31 |
| 12 |
Merrimack |
16 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Kelly Haggerty – Fairfield |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Kelly Haggerty* |
Attack |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Kacie Scarduzio |
Attack |
Gr. |
Iona |
| Brooke Molchanoff |
Attack |
So. |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Mia Delmond |
Attack |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Maddie Fitzgerald |
Midfield |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Haley Burns |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Maddy Gill |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Katherine Shammas |
Defense |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Hailey Chester |
Defense |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Sydney Huhtala |
Defense |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Madelyn Breitbeil |
Defense |
Jr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Brynn Donnelly |
Specialist |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Shannon Alden |
Goalkeeper |
So. |
Quinnipiac |
