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Moyer, Battistelli, Weaver, & ELCO Clash Highlight Championship Week
Conference championships, MVP honors, and big postseason performances put Lebanon County graduates in the spotlight across all three NCAA divisions.
Championship week brought plenty of excitement for Lebanon County’s collegiate field hockey alumni, with several former local players celebrating conference titles and others delivering memorable performances in the postseason.
From a championship MVP at Penn State Harrisburg to historic conference victories at Vermont and Syracuse, Lebanon County graduates were part of some of the biggest moments of the college field hockey season.
Here’s the latest LebCo Field Hockey Alumni Check-In, featuring action through Saturday, November 7.
Last Week’s Check-In: November 1st
Weaver Part of Syracuse’s First ACC Championship
Another Palmyra graduate celebrated a major conference championship Friday as Syracuse University captured the first Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey title in program history.
Freshman Jovie Weaver contributed to the Orange’s championship run, which concluded with a dramatic shootout victory over Boston College.
The teams battled through regulation and overtime without a goal before Syracuse prevailed 2-0 in the shootout. Orange goalkeeper Jessie Eiselin stopped all four Boston College attempts to secure the championship.
Weaver recorded one shot on goal during the title game, helping Syracuse generate offensive opportunities against the Eagles’ defense.
The Orange reached the final after defeating Louisville 4-3 in the quarterfinals and North Carolina in the semifinals.
With the championship, Syracuse earned the ACC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
For Weaver, being part of a conference championship during her freshman season represents an impressive early milestone in her collegiate career.
Read Syracuse’s championship announcement
Battistelli Helps Vermont Capture America East Championship
After entering the America East Tournament as the fifth seed, the University of Vermont completed an unlikely championship run Friday afternoon, defeating UAlbany in a shootout to claim the conference title.
Palmyra graduate Alicia Battistelli was part of the Catamounts’ remarkable postseason journey, which included three victories in six days.
Vermont opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over New Hampshire on November 1 before rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat top-seeded UMass Lowell 3-2 in the semifinals.
Battistelli contributed an assist in that comeback victory, setting up Gabriella Santini’s second-quarter goal that tied the game at two. The senior also recorded multiple shots as Vermont continued applying offensive pressure.
In Friday’s championship, Vermont built a 2-0 advantage before UAlbany scored twice in the fourth quarter to force overtime. After two scoreless extra periods, the Catamounts prevailed 6-5 in a seven-round shootout.
The victory marked Vermont’s second America East championship and established a program record with 14 wins. The Catamounts, now 14-5, also became the first fifth seed to win the conference tournament.
Battistelli, who has led Vermont’s goal-scoring attack throughout the season, will now have an opportunity to continue her collegiate career in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Read Vermont’s championship recap
Hoffsmith and Bowers Meet in CAA Championship
Friday’s Coastal Athletic Association championship featured two former Palmyra Cougars competing on opposite sidelines.
Hadley Hoffsmith and Fairfield University defeated Keely Bowers and Monmouth University 2-1, giving the Stags their third consecutive conference championship.
Fairfield and Monmouth battled through three scoreless quarters before the Stags broke through with two goals in a span of just 75 seconds during the fourth.
Monmouth answered shortly afterward, but Fairfield held on to secure the title.
Both Hoffsmith and Bowers appeared in the championship contest, representing their respective programs in a matchup featuring familiar Lebanon County connections.
Fairfield improved to 12-7 and earned the CAA’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth. The Stags previously captured Northeast Conference championships in 2024 and 2025 before winning their first CAA title this season.
Monmouth finished 11-7 after reaching the championship with a semifinal victory over Drexel.
Read Fairfield’s championship recap
Moyer Named Championship MVP as Penn State Harrisburg Makes History
Cedar Crest graduate Anna Moyer helped Penn State Harrisburg capture its first United East Conference field hockey championship Saturday, defeating St. Mary’s College of Maryland 2-1 in a dramatic shootout.
After the teams battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtime periods, the Lions converted three shootout attempts while limiting the Seahawks to one. Moyer was among the successful shooters, helping secure the historic victory.
The junior captain was named the United East Championship Most Valuable Player after recording six shots, including five on goal, during the contest.
The championship followed Moyer’s outstanding semifinal performance on October 31, when she collected two goals and an assist in a 5-2 victory over Wilson.
Penn State Harrisburg improved to 12-5 and earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Lions will learn their tournament opponent during Sunday’s selection show.
For Moyer, the conference championship and MVP recognition provide an exciting conclusion to an already impressive week.
Read the United East Championship recap
Weiler Scores, Hibshman Delivers in ELCO Alumni Showdown
One of the week’s most compelling local storylines unfolded Wednesday when two ELCO graduates met in the MAC Commonwealth semifinals.
Messiah University’s Addie Weiler wasted little time making an impact, scoring just 1:52 into the contest to give the Falcons an early lead over Stevenson University.
Weiler redirected a pass from Ellie Lefever into the cage, putting Messiah ahead before the Mustangs responded with two first-quarter goals.
The teams traded momentum throughout the evening, with Messiah eventually taking a 3-2 lead in the third quarter. Stevenson answered in the fourth, sending the game into overtime tied at three.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the teams moved to a shootout.
That’s when Stevenson’s Kailen Hibshman helped deliver the decisive result.
The sophomore converted one of four successful Stevenson attempts as the Mustangs prevailed 4-3, advancing to the MAC Commonwealth championship game.
Stevenson’s season ultimately ended Saturday with a 2-1 loss to York College in the conference final. The Mustangs finished with an impressive 17-2 record.
Messiah completed its conference tournament run at 11-7 and will await the NCAA Tournament selections to see whether its season continues.
Despite competing on opposite sidelines, both former Raiders delivered important postseason moments.
Read Messiah’s semifinal recap
Francis Collects Four Points in Pace Victory
Annville-Cleona graduate Grace Francis continued her outstanding junior season Friday evening, recording a goal and two assists as Pace University defeated Franklin Pierce 5-1.
Francis helped the Setters strike almost immediately, assisting on Feline Rook’s goal just 40 seconds into the contest.
She added another assist on Rook’s second goal during the second quarter before finding the cage herself early in the third.
The former Dutchman finished with four points and a team-high seven shots, helping Pace improve to 12-6 overall.
Francis has been one of the Setters’ most productive offensive players throughout the season, entering the week with 13 goals.
Pace has secured a berth in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament and will look to carry its recent momentum into postseason competition.
McAteer Scores as DeSales Ends Lebanon Valley’s Tournament Run
Wednesday’s MAC Freedom semifinal between DeSales University and Lebanon Valley College brought another matchup featuring several Lebanon County graduates.
Annville-Cleona graduate Maggie McAteer scored Lebanon Valley’s first goal in the second quarter, helping the Dutchmen battle back after falling behind 2-0.
Lebanon Valley eventually cut the deficit to one again during the fourth quarter, but DeSales held on for a 3-2 victory.
McAteer finished with one goal, while fellow Annville-Cleona graduate Danika Setlock recorded three shots, including one on goal. Cedar Crest graduate Reese Arnold also started for the Dutchmen, who finished their season at 11-8.
On the opposing sideline, Cedar Crest graduate Sierra Margut helped DeSales advance to the MAC Freedom championship game.
The Bulldogs’ postseason run ended Saturday with a 4-0 loss to Stevens Institute of Technology. Margut started the contest and recorded one shot as DeSales finished the season at 11-8.
Read DeSales’ semifinal victory
Hudson Sisters Help Boston University Reach Patriot League Final
Palmyra graduates Maddie Hudson and Mallory Hudson helped Boston University advance to the Patriot League championship game following a 1-0 semifinal victory over American University on Thursday.
Mallory started the semifinal contest, while Maddie entered as a substitute and recorded a shot on goal.
The Terriers advanced to face top-seeded Lafayette on Saturday, with both sisters earning starting assignments in the championship game.
Boston University battled the Leopards throughout the afternoon, tying the contest at one during the third quarter before Lafayette scored the eventual game-winner.
Mallory recorded one shot in the 2-1 defeat.
The Terriers finished their season at 9-10 after making their second consecutive appearance in the Patriot League championship game.
Read Boston University’s championship recap
Kutztown Continues Winning, Millersville Pulls Off Upset
At the Division II level, Lebanon County graduates remain involved in several notable programs.
Palmyra graduate Olivia Kirkpatrick and Cedar Crest graduate Paige Bucher helped top-ranked Kutztown University finish its regular season with a 17-1 record.
Both players started Friday’s 4-1 victory over sixth-ranked Bloomsburg, a result that secured an 8-1 conference record for the Golden Bears.
Kutztown earned a first-round bye in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament and will advance directly to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Palmyra graduate Peyton Bean helped Millersville University close its regular season with a major upset Saturday.
The Marauders defeated third-ranked East Stroudsburg 1-0, scoring just 2:41 into the contest before holding the Warriors scoreless the rest of the afternoon.
Bean started defensively and recorded one shot as Millersville limited East Stroudsburg to four shots on goal.
The victory allowed the Marauders to finish their season at 5-12, ending the campaign on an encouraging note.
Read Kutztown’s victory over Bloomsburg
Read Millersville’s upset victory
More Postseason Action
Elizabethtown College’s season also came to an end during the Landmark Conference semifinals.
The Blue Jays, featuring Palmyra graduates Ava Wolfe, Avery Mettle, and Kami Van Zant, fell 3-0 to top-seeded Scranton on November 3.
Elizabethtown finished with a 13-7 record after advancing to the semifinals with an 8-0 victory over Drew the previous weekend.
Although the Blue Jays fell short of the conference championship, the three former Cougars gained valuable experience during their freshman seasons.
NCAA Tournament Opportunities Ahead
With conference championship week complete, attention now shifts toward the NCAA Tournament.
Vermont, Syracuse, Fairfield, and Penn State Harrisburg have all secured automatic tournament berths, giving several Lebanon County graduates an opportunity to continue their seasons on the national stage.
Other programs, including Kutztown and Pace, are preparing for conference postseason competition, while additional teams will await NCAA at-large selections.
From Moyer’s championship MVP performance to the conference titles involving Battistelli, Weaver, and Hoffsmith, this was a particularly memorable week for Lebanon County’s collegiate field hockey alumni.
As the postseason continues, there will be plenty of familiar names worth following.
LebCoSports will continue highlighting the accomplishments of Lebanon County’s collegiate field hockey alumni throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
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