2026 Holy Cross field hockey season preview

The Holy Cross field hockey team enters the 2026 season looking to make a statement in the Patriot League. The Crusaders return 19 letterwinners from last year’s team, while adding seven new faces to the mix. 

ENTERING THE COSENZA ERA

Friday, Aug. 28’s season opener against Stonehill will also be the opening of head coach Kim Cosenza’s time on Mount St. James.

Named the sixth head coach of Holy Cross field hockey on Feb. 2, Cosenza joins the Crusaders’ from nearby Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In her five seasons at WPI, Cosenza led the Engineers to a winning record and playoff appearances in every season, capped off by a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2025.

No stranger to the greater Worcester area, Cosenza was a dual-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse at Worcester State University, and previously spent time as the head coach at Fitchburg State, Worcester State, and Elms College.

Joining Cosenza on the brand new coaching staff are assistant coaches Chris Pothier, Emily Sollecito, and Nate O’Lari, and Director of Operations Nat Mohn.

TRIO OF SENIORS TO LEAD THE WAY

The Crusaders will have three team captains for the 2026 campaign, in midfielder Marissa MacLean, midfielder Maguire Sturgis, and back Saskia Williams. Sturgis and MacLean will don the captains’ band for the second-straight season.

Staples in the lineup, the three captains have combined for 89 points on 26 goals and 37 assists in 147 games played.

CONSISTENCY

The Holy Cross field hockey senior class of midfielders Marissa MacLean and Maguire Sturgis, backs Charlotte Powers, Meredith Schepens, and Saskia Williams, and goalkeeper Madison Clark bring a combined 208 games of collegiate experience to the field this season. The group of six has combined for 136 starts, 91 points (27 goals - 37 assists) and 8,489 minutes of play. 

The Crusaders will also return eight players who started at least ten games last season in MacLean, Sturgis, Williams, juniors Kendall Brady, Mia McCloskey and Jocelyn Monti, and sophomores Rachel Egan and Maeve Kiernan.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Holy Cross is slated to play a full schedule consisting of 16 games, nine of which will be played at the Hart Turf Field. 

The Crusaders will open the season with a home matchup against Stonehill (Aug. 28), then hit the road for one game before beginning a four-game homestand. 

Patriot League play will begin on the road at Lehigh (Sept. 19), followed by the first home league matchup against Lafayette (Sept. 25).

FRESH FACES
 

Seven new players join the Crusader ranks for the 2026 season. The Class of 2030 is made up of forward Marianna MacLean, midfielders Kate Burke, CeCe Honeker, Abby Kent, and Julia McCusker, defenseman Izzy McElgunn, and goalkeeper Julia Okenquist.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross field hockey team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossFH | @goholycross
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