BEVERLY, Mass. — After locking up their first conference title in program history, the Roger Williams University Hawks headline the storylines for the upcoming 2025 Conference of New England (CNE) Field Hockey season. In addition, Hartford makes their debut in field hockey this season as we preview each squad for the upcoming 2025 season.
 
Endicott College
Endicott brings back six all-conference honorees from last season’s squad including CNE Offensive Player of the Year, Tori Swanson (Farmington, Conn.), Goalkeeper of the Year, Faith Minickene (Madison, Conn.), and Rookie of the Year Riley Perkins (Lakeville, Mass.). Swanson became the program's first-ever NCAA Statistical Champion last season when she led all of Division III in Points Per Game (3.50) and Goals Per Game (1.61). The Gulls top three goal scorers- Swanson, Reagan Hicks (Barnstable, Mass.), and Maddy Dengler (Winchester, Mass.) from last season's team are all back which finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally in goals per game with 4.26. Endicott take on five programs (Babson, Keene St., Roger Williams, Middlebury, and Johnson & Wales) who made the NCAA Tournament last season. Additionally, Head coach Jodi Cipolla is 11 wins away from 250 for her career.
Additions: Ellen Barto, Madison Barwood, Adie Bolduc, McKenna Dockery, Madi Dufresne, Kaelin Fish, Kate Knox, and Cat Potvin
Graduates: Emma Antkowiak, Meg Arnette, Grace Gervais, Casey Halliday, Kathleen Reissfelder, Taylor Stone, Brooke Yabroudy, and Maddy Young
 
Gordon College
Led by second-year head coach Alyssa Maryanopolis, Gordon will begin the 2025 campaign August 29 against Westfield State. The Fighting Scots return 12 veterans including leading scorers Sarah Bourk and Josie Gayer along with Allyson Stauffer, who appeared in all 19 games in goal.
Additions: Anna Bryan Marquardt, Jasmine Yoo, Kayla Davidson, Kaitlyn Carlsen, Sophia Tomassoni, Abbie Reynolds, Tillie Hutton
Graduated: Emma Darling, Abigail Hopkins, Gina Oullette, Paige Paul

Johnson & Wales University
Coming of four-straight GNAC Championships, the Wildcats will have a new look and feel behind fifth-year head coach Lisa Lopes in 2025. JWU graduated two of its top four scorers from a year ago, including two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Haley Budenas, but returns a strong core led by senior Zofia Bangs, who scored a career-high 14 goals in 2024, and junior and 2023 GNAC Rookie of the Year Ava Pontes, who collected 15 points last season. Junior goalie and 2023 GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year Sophia Brea owns a career record of 31-7 with a .756 save pct.  
Additions: Charlotte Labossiere, Paitlynn Botelho, Faith Miguel, Emily Beal
Graduates: Megan Salsinha, Haley Budenas, Madison Young, Darian Shepherd, Izzy Ward
 
Nichols College
The 2025 season will be about looking to the future for the Nichols College field hockey program, as they return to action this fall with a number of notable returning student-athletes, an eight-player recruiting class, and a new head coach in Kelsey Ramsay. The Bison, who went 5-14 (1-4 CNE), will kick start their new campaign with their 1:00 PM home opener on Saturday, August 30th against non-conference opponent Dean College, and will open their conference competition on Saturday, September 13th against Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Highlighting the list of Bison returners is senior midfielder Merle Steinau (Essen, Germany), who posted a career-high 11 points (4G, 3A) in 11 games played, which earned her All-CNE Second Team recognition upon the completion of the 2024 season. The Bison also have two of their top offensive threats returning to action this fall; junior Sofia Calabro, who led the team in points (18) with six goals and six assists, as well as senior Kaelyn Casper who logged 13 points (5G, 3A), with both appearing in all 19 games. 
Additions: Evelyn Linehan, Marta Hellstrom, Gabby Couillard, Spencer Cameron, Lily Gibson, Lilah Dunn, Amanda Iannacone, Jessa Altemose. 
Graduates: Callie Worthington, McKenzie Guertin, Emily LeBlanc, Carlee Farwell, Sophia Venable
 
Roger Williams University
Coming off the first conference championship in program history, Roger Williams University Field Hockey will aim to repeat its success in the 2025 season. Under the guidance of fourth-year Head Coach Jill Reeve, the Hawks finished 16-7 overall and 4-1 in the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, earning the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
The Hawks return several key contributors, including NFHCA All-Region honorees Chelsea King (Albany, N.Y.) and Maddy Monahan (Bristol, N.H.), with King earning First Team recognition. Goalkeeper Hannah Brazil (East Sandwich, Mass.) returns in the net after posting a 1.68 goals-against average and a .774 save percentage in 12 appearances, including three starts last season.
Offensively, RWU returns four of the top five-point scorers from last season. King, who leads the program in career points, goals, and assists, along with the offensive output from Monahan, Elizabeth Duquette (Pittsford, N.Y.), and Hannah Timbrouck (Kingston, N.Y.), returns after ranking in the top five in points in 2024. Along with sophomore defender McKenzie Foley, who was named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Additions: Emiley Vinciguerra, Ava Hogenkamp, Lexi Robicheau, Karli Schulken, Libby Corsetti, Brodie Loveland, Eva Wood, Lexi Yost, 
Graduates: Lauren Costanzo, Caroline Freeman, Sara Carney, Shawna Ruth, Ella Waryas, Abigail Stevens, Jill Haudenshield
 
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford field hockey team is set to debut in 2025 after being a club sport in 2024. Head Coach Rhonwen Peters will begin her tenure for the Hawks after being the head coach of American International College for seven seasons, where she is the all-time wins leader. The roster will feature 12 freshmen student-athletes with nine others returning to the team. Seniors Sara Costa (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) and Jaylene Soto (Bayville, N.J.) are the lone seniors on the team who both participated in the practices last season and will help build the foundation for the program. Costa is the lone member of the team with collegiate experience as she is a dual sport athlete participating on the women’s lacrosse team in the spring. The team has 15 games on the inaugural schedule with seven overall home contests in 2025. Hartford will kick off the season at home against Elms College on August 29th as part of a four-game home stand to start the year. 
 
Western New England University
Coming off a 10-8 season with a 3-2 mark in Conference of New England play in 2024, the Western New England University field hockey team will look to add to its win total in 2025, which has eclipsed at least ten wins in each of the last four seasons overall under seventh-year head coach Kyle Lyons. Lyons and the Golden Bears return five of their top six scorers from a season ago, including rising senior Haley Kaczka (Granby, Conn.), a first-team all-conference selection last season, as well as an NFHCA All-Region selection, who put up 11 goals and four assists in 2024, good for 26 points overall. Offensive threats, Mackenna Cooke (Old Saybrook, Conn.), Analise Trani (Norwalk, Conn.), Kayla Antonelli (Upton, Mass.), and Kara Edwards (Enfield, Conn.) are all expected to help the blue and gold reach the top of the conference. The Golden Bears bring in seven highly skilled first-years to the 2025 roster, looking to make an immediate impact on the field. With an experienced defense returning for the blue and gold, Western New England field hockey will look to continue to build on the success of last season. WNE opens its 2025 schedule at Golden Bear Stadium this Friday, August 29, at 7:00 PM, welcoming Wheaton College (Mass.) to Springfield.
Additions: Gracen Grimm, Olivia Lugo, Mikayla Mrzywka, Jenna Nigro, Gabbi Oakes, Maddie Ripley, Christina Schmidt
Graduates: Amanda Burns, Claire Cronin, Sarah Johnston, Emma Karamian, Keegan McMahon, Olyvia Whyte, Zoey Wexler
 
University of New England
The University of New England and 13th-year head coach Danielle Collins have eight starters back from a 2024 squad made it to the championship game as the No.4 seed in the postseason tournament. Six of those key returners are on the back half of the field, including three-time all-conference first team defender Shelly Tremblay and two-time first team midfielder Micaela Jacobs -- both seniors. Junior defender Gianna Korisianos has a pair of all-league picks to her credit, as well.
Additions: Chloe Michaud, Ella Reeves, Avia Russo, Ava Wolverton
Graduates: Lily Clough, Dawn DeWeese-Moss, Madi Robito
 
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 11 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 21 intercollegiate sports.