FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State women's lacrosse program enters the 2026 season with confidence, depth, and a renewed edge this spring as they open up play at Allegheny on Wednesday.

After finishing 9–9 overall and 4–5 in SUNYAC play in 2025, the team earned a spot in the conference tournament for the first time under head coach Tori Poffenberger.
"We've been focusing on our mental game this preseason," said coach Poffenberger, "and this training has absolutely translated into our intensity of play at practice and in scrimmages so far. We've learned how to find learning experiences in failure, we've learned how to celebrate one another genuinely, we've learned how to dig out of a hole, we've learned what it means to truly battle, and we've learned to put it all on the line because we believe in ourselves more than we ever have before."

Depth is one of the biggest storylines entering the new season for Fredonia State. Defender Sydney Buchko, midfielder Emma Cockerell, and defender Camryn Jacobs were all named to the All-SUNYAC Third Team, but only Jacobs returns due to the graduation of the other two. This year's team will look to build off its recent success and continue climbing the conference ladder.

"We have a larger variety of players who have different strengths and skills set and a deeper bench than we have in past years, which gives us the opportunity to raise the ceiling of what it means to be great at Fredonia and to challenge the SUNYAC in a way we haven't in recent years," said Poffenberger. 

Fredonia's roster features balance across all position groups. In goal, junior Ashleigh Manns and senior Jessica Kowalski provide experience and stability between the pipes.

The defensive unit is led by Jacobs, Alyssa Vukosic, Tori Bernardoni, Olivia Fuller, Hannah Crowther, Ella Forrest, Jenna Slamka, Abby Myshak, and  Shaliyah Helmick.

The midfield group is comprised of Megan Karalus, Gabby Lewinski, Noelle Mendez, Kiera Young, Katie O'Brien, and Rylee Bennett.

Offensively, the attack is paced by Cailin Karalus, Leah Kunisch, Mieley Baran, Emma Carlson, Amelia LeFevre, and Piper Evangelist. 

The 2026 schedule presents a challenging non-conference slate early, with road tests against Allegheny, Westminster, Grove City, Chatham, Baldwin Wallace, and John Carroll before SUNYAC play ramps up.

The Blue Devils will host conference matchups at University Stadium against Oswego, Morrisville, Cortland, and Plattsburgh. They will travel to New Paltz, Canton, Potsdam and Buffalo State. 

In the SUNYAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Fredonia State was picked sixth, slotted behind Oswego, Cortland, New Paltz, Oneonta, and Buffalo State.