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2026 LebCo Field Hockey Season Outlook
Lebanon County Field Hockey has rarely been short on tradition, talent, or expectations, and the 2026 season brings another collection of intriguing storylines.
Palmyra enters the fall as the defending PIAA Class 2A State Champion, while Annville-Cleona brings back nine starters from a team that reached the District playoffs. ELCO is looking to return to the postseason behind an experienced core, Northern Lebanon hopes last year’s youth movement begins paying dividends, and Cedar Crest starts a new chapter with former Falcon Hanna Lewis taking over the program.
There are accomplished veterans, All-State performers, college commits, and young players ready for larger roles throughout the county. With the season already underway, here’s a team-by-team look at what to expect from Lebanon County field hockey in 2026.
Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Carrie Gingrich – 9th season
Key Returners: Nora Hoover (Sr., F); Dana Hoover (Sr., D); Claire Francis (Jr., MF); Georgia Sellers (So., F); Alayna Dalton (So., D)
Rising Contributors: Emily Hanley (Fr., F/MF)
Collegiate Competitors: Danika Setlock (Lebanon Valley); Tori Cisney (Ohio); Grace Francis (Pace); Maggie McAteer (Lebanon Valley)
Season Outlook
What was expected to be a rebuilding season turned into much more for Annville-Cleona in 2025. After replacing 10 starters, the Dutchmen finished second in their section and qualified for the District playoffs. Now, with nine of 11 starters returning, the focus shifts from rebuilding to building upon what that young group accomplished.
Junior Claire Francis headlines the returners after a huge sophomore season in which she surpassed 100 career points, earned First Team All-Star honors, and was named Second Team All-State. Sophomore forward Georgia Sellers also earned First Team All-Star recognition, while senior defender Dana Hoover was a Second Team All-Star. Senior forward Nora Hoover adds another experienced piece to the lineup.
There could be another boost from Alayna Dalton, who returns as a sophomore after missing roughly three-quarters of last season due to injury. Freshman Emily Hanley, who can play forward or midfield, is another young player who could make an early impact.
The biggest hole to fill comes in goal following the graduation of Savannah Kleinfelter, but the experience throughout the rest of the lineup gives A-C reason to set ambitious goals. Winning the section and returning to the postseason remain priorities, while the players have added another objective of their own: getting to Districts and winning a game or two once they get there.
After exceeding expectations with a young lineup last fall, Annville-Cleona enters 2026 with much of that group intact and an opportunity to see how much further it can go.
Annville-Cleona Dutchmen Schedule
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Hanna Lewis – 1st season
Key Returners: Miklayn Weaber (Sr., GK); Estella Sanchez (Sr., MF); Bella Paquette (Jr., F)
Rising Contributors: Sophia Carr (So.); Madison Stradnick (So.)
Collegiate Competitors: Paige Bucher (Kutztown); Reese Arnold (Lebanon Valley)
Season Outlook
There is a familiar face taking over the Cedar Crest program in 2026. Hanna Lewis, a former Falcon, returns to her alma mater as head coach after playing collegiately at Lafayette and East Stroudsburg. She was part of an ESU program that captured the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship. Lewis replaces Alicia Arnold but will have continuity on the staff with assistants Hannah Shirey and Caitlin Schwalm returning.
The Falcons are looking to take a step forward after finishing 2-15 last season, and Miklayn Weaber gives them one of the area’s most accomplished players to build around. The senior goalkeeper made 235 saves with a 74 percent save rate last fall, earning First Team Section 1, All-League, and Second Team All-State honors.
There is proven talent in front of her as well. Bella Paquette returns after leading the Cedar Crest attack with 10 goals and three assists as a sophomore, a performance that earned her Second Team Section 1 recognition. Senior midfielder Estella Sanchez, an honorable mention selection last season, provides another experienced presence after recording two assists.
Sophomores Sophia Carr and Madison Stradnick are among the Rising Contributors who could take on larger roles as the Falcons move forward under a new coaching staff.
For Lewis, the early emphasis is on bringing the group together and seeing how much it can grow over the course of the season. She inherits a strong senior class that she believes can provide leadership, along with several proven individual performers and younger players looking to make their mark. After a difficult 2025 campaign, Cedar Crest enters the fall excited to see where that combination can take the program.
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach:Kelsey Thorley – 8th season
Key Returners: Meredith Noll (Sr., MF); Sophie Hollinshead (Sr., MF); Raegan Zwally (Sr., MF); Paityn Newswanger (Jr., MF); Jordan Rivera (Jr., MF); Lilja Davis (Jr., D); Jameris Eckert (Jr., MF); Mackenzie Hibshman (So., F); Megyn Noll (So., D); Lilly Weaver (So., MF)
Rising Contributors: Naomi Weaver (Fr., GK); Liberty Wilkerson (Fr., F); Riley Ebling (Fr., D)
Collegiate Competitors: Addie Weiler (Messiah); Kailen Hibshman (Stevenson); Hailey Whitmoyer (Lancaster Bible); Ayla Zwally (Lancaster Bible)
Season Outlook
There will be some familiar names in different roles for ELCO this fall. The Raiders graduated a talented group that included Addie Weiler, Alexa Shanaman, Savannah Gettle, Ava Bird, Audrey Boehler, and Molly Schneider, leaving openings throughout the field and in goal. Rather than rebuilding from scratch, ELCO will turn to players who spent last season preparing for opportunities that have now arrived.
Senior Meredith Noll gives the Raiders a proven centerpiece. The Towson commit enters her final season as an All-State and First Team Section 3 selection who has already surpassed 100 career points. Fellow seniors Sophie Hollinshead, a three-year starter, and Raegan Zwally add experience to a midfield-heavy returning group that also includes juniors Paityn Newswanger, Jordan Rivera, Jameris Eckert, and defender Lilja Davis.
There is youth mixed into that returning group as well. Sophomores Mackenzie Hibshman, Megyn Noll, and Lilly Weaver are back, while freshmen Naomi Weaver, Liberty Wilkerson, and Riley Ebling are among the Rising Contributors. With several reserves from last season now moving into starting positions, those players have embraced the increased responsibility and reinforced just how important ELCO’s depth has become.
For Brooke Zale, that willingness to accept roles has been one of the encouraging signs. The Raiders have a group that has bought into doing what is needed for the team, while a young bench continues developing behind the starters. That combination will be tested in a realigned Section 3 that brings county rivalries and additional competition from programs moving over from Section 4.
The goal is to turn that transition into another postseason opportunity. ELCO wants to remain in the District 3 conversation, and how quickly its new starters settle into larger roles will be an important part of determining whether the Raiders can get back onto the playoff stage.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Kristi Ecenroad – 3rd season
Key Returners: Katelyn Ecenroad (Sr., MF); Rylie Werner (Sr., F/MF)
Rising Contributors: Elizabeth Tavani (So., F/MF); Orlaith Phillips (So., GK)
Season Outlook
Northern Lebanon’s record didn’t tell the entire story in 2025. With a small roster that often required seven or eight freshmen to start, the Vikings approached the season as an opportunity to develop field awareness, stick skills, and speed while learning from each result. A year later, many of those freshmen return as sophomores with varsity experience already behind them.
Senior Katelyn Ecenroad provides an experienced presence in the middle after earning Second Team LL League All-Star honors last fall. While she may not pile up goals, Ecenroad’s ability to control the center of the field, defend, create opportunities, and provide leadership makes her a catalyst for the Vikings.
Northern Lebanon could also receive a significant boost from Rylie Werner. The senior forward/midfielder had last season cut short by an injury that required surgery and initially wasn’t expected to return this fall. With Werner working toward clearance, the Vikings hope to regain a player capable of providing a strong shot and added goal-scoring ability.
The graduation of Kasey Weimer creates a major opening defensively. A First Team LL League All-Star, Weimer recorded 17 defensive saves last season and was a disruptive presence in front of the cage. Behind that opening, however, is a sophomore class that gained more experience than most groups its age. Elizabeth Tavani and goalkeeper Orlaith Phillips are among the players to watch as that class takes another step forward.
The Vikings remain young and relatively small in numbers, but Kirsten Kline saw strong attendance and commitment throughout the summer and has already noticed improvement from last season. Northern Lebanon hopes the lessons learned during a difficult developmental year, combined with that offseason work, begin showing up more regularly in the win column in 2026.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Kent Harshman – 9th season
Key Returners: Leigha Kane (Sr., MF); Maddie Waldron (Sr., F); Addie Barger (Jr., MF); Ella Detwiler (Jr., MF); Alivya Hepner (Jr., D); Grace Frew (Jr., D); Katie Steelman (Jr., D); Sophie Kennelly (GK); Allie Fink (So., F)
Rising Contributors: Amelia Valle (So., F); Annie Weidman (Fr., F)
Season Outlook
Palmyra enters 2026 facing the difficult task of following a historic season that ended with the PIAA Class 2A State Championship. Six starters are gone from that championship lineup, including leading scorer Jovie Weaver, while junior captain Maddie Stahl is currently sidelined by injury. Still, the Cougars return enough experience and talent to believe they can remain among the state’s top Class 2A programs.
Senior captain and Penn State commit Leigha Kane returns to control the midfield, while fellow senior captain Maddie Waldron brings experience to the attack. Junior Addie Barger, an Old Dominion commit, and Ella Detweiler give Palmyra two more experienced midfielders capable of pushing the Cougars forward.
There is also continuity on the defensive end. Juniors Alivya Hepner, Grace Frew, and Katie Steelman return in front of goalkeeper Sophie Kennelly, giving Palmyra an experienced group to build around as other roles are reshaped.
Some of the biggest opportunities will come on the attack. Sophomore Allie Fink saw significant varsity action during last year’s championship run and appears ready for a larger role, while fellow sophomore Amelia Valle and freshman Annie Weidman add additional speed and options up front.
The Cougars will have plenty of opportunities to test their new-look lineup. In addition to a demanding Mid-Penn schedule featuring Lower Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, and Hershey, Palmyra has challenging non-league matchups that include Susquehannock and five-time defending District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh.
There are important pieces to replace, but this isn’t a program starting over after winning a state championship. Palmyra returns captains, college commits, experienced defenders, and younger players who were already gaining varsity experience last fall. The challenge for Coach Harshman and the Cougars is bringing those pieces together and creating the next version of a program coming off the ultimate finish to 2025.
Palmyra Makes Early Statement with 4-1 Win Over Penn Manor
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