BOSTON – Vermont was picked to win the America East in the conference's 2026 preseason coaches' poll, marking the first time the Catamounts have been selected as the preseason favorite in program history. Vermont is coming off a 2025 season in which it earned a share of its first regular-season title and hosted the America East Tournament for the first time.
In addition to the team recognition, Alicia Battistelli, Consu De Castro, and Veerle Nijhuis earned preseason All-Conference honors.
RELATED LINKS
America East Release
2026 Schedule
2026 Roster
Voting was conducted by the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own teams or student-athletes. Vermont and UAlbany were tied for first with 21 points, with Vermont receiving three first-place votes and UAlbany earning one. UMass Lowell placed third with 16 points and two first-place votes, followed by Maine (13), New Hampshire (11), and Bryant (8).
This marks the first time in their careers that Battistelli, Castro, and Nijhuis have earned preseason All-Conference honors. Battistelli finished last season with a team-best nine goals. She also added two assists for 20 points and earned a spot on the America East All-Conference First Team. Castro earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors after tallying seven goals and three assists for 17 points.
Nijhuis was named America East Rookie of the Year and earned spots on the America East All-Rookie Team and All-Conference Second Team after finishing the 2025 season with seven goals and two assists for 16 points.
America East Preseason Poll
Pl. School Pts. (1st)
T1. Vermont 21 (3)
T1. UAlbany 21 (1)
3. UMass Lowell 16 (2)
4. Maine 13
5. New Hampshire 11
6. Bryant 8
Preseason All-Conference
F Alicia Battistelli (Vermont)
F Callie Caito (Bryant)
F Consu De Castro (Vermont)
D Nicole Kowalewski (Maine)
F Saylor Kuefler (Maine)
F Jette Kurz (UAlbany)
D Pilar Lorenzini (UAlbany)
M Veerle Nijhuis (Vermont)
M Alice Van Hemelen (UMass Lowell)
F Karli Penrod (UMass Lowell)
D Eloise Penty (Maine)
GK Merle Vaandrager (UAlbany)
The Catamounts open the 2026 regular season on Friday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. against Northeastern on Moulton Winder Field.
For news and updates about the Vermont Field Hockey program, follow @UVMfieldhky on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com
