TOWSON, Md. — The Catholic field hockey team was picked to finish fifth in the Landmark Conference this season in the 2026 field hockey preseason poll, it was announced today. The Cardinals received 43 points in the poll.

Head coach Rachel Palumbo enters her sixth season at the helm of the program ahead of 2026. Under Palumbo, the Cardinals have reached the Landmark Semifinals four times, winning the title in 2022. 

Catholic returns senior midfielder Bella Reyes for the 2026 season. Reyes earned Second Team All-Landmark honors in 2025 after leading the Cardinal squad with 11 points. Lauren Keast and Katie Flynn will also return to the field for Catholic after standout 2025 campaigns. Keast led the team in assists alongside Reyes with three, while Flynn and Reyes led with four goals apiece in 2025.

Scranton took the top spot in the preseason poll with 80 points and three first-place votes. The Royals captured the Landmark Conference title in 2025. Susquehanna and Elizabethtown each received a first-place vote in the poll, Susquehanna securing the second spot with 72 points and Elizabethtown in third with 64 points. Drew and Catholic rounded out the top five.

The Cardinals will open their season with a match up against TCNJ on Wednesday, September 2. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium.

 

Team	2025 Record	Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Scranton	17-4 (9-0 LC)	80 (8)
2. Susquehanna	13-8 (8-1 LC)	72 (1)
3. Elizabethtown	10-10 (6-3)	64 (1)
4. Drew	13-6 (5-4 LC)	53
5. Catholic	3-13 (3-6 LC)	43
6. Lycoming	10-8 (4-5 LC)	39
7. Wilkes	10-11 (4-5 LC)	36
8. Moravian	6-12 (2-7 LC)	31
9. Goucher	9-10 (4-5 LC)	23
10. Juniata	2-17 (0-9 LC)	9