EDISON, NJ (Jan. 30, 2026) – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) women’s lacrosse defending champions, Fairfield University, has been named as the top choice in the 2026 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. Kelly Haggerty of Fairfield was named as the Preseason Player of the Year.
The most successful program in MAAC history, Fairfield claimed 11 first place votes, tallying a league-high 143 points to top the poll. Fairfield finished the 2025 season with an 11-8 overall record, going 7-1 in the MAAC to secure a share of the MAAC Regular Season Championship, its MAAC-leading 16
th regular season title. As a No. 2 seed in the MAAC postseason, the Stags won the 2025 MAAC Championship, their sixth title over the past seven postseasons, and ninth total in program history. Fairfield also advanced to the NCAA postseason for the seventh straight campaign and the ninth time overall.
Mount St. Mary’s University, which earned a share of the 2025 MAAC Regular Season Championship along with Fairfield, was selected second in the poll with 122 points, while Siena University was chosen third with 118 points and the final first place vote. 2025 championship runner-up, Iona University was tabbed fourth collecting 107 points and Niagara University rounded out the top five of the poll with 98 points.
Fairfield junior attacker, Haggerty was named as the Preseason Player of the Year and she was the lone player unanimously voted to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. During her sophomore campaign, Haggerty played in all 19 games for the Stags, leading the team with 47 goals to go along with 12 assists, for 59 points. She ranked seventh in the MAAC in goals, ninth in points, and her 2.47 goals per game average were 10
th in the league. Additionally, she ranked fourth in shots per game (6.47) and seventh in shots on goal per game (4.42). Haggerty rounded out her season with five game-winning goals, 21 ground balls and caused six turnovers, earning All-MAAC Second Team honors.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2026 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
143 (11) |
| 2 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
122 |
| 3 |
Siena |
118 (1) |
| 4 |
Iona |
107 |
| 5 |
Niagara |
98 |
| 6 |
Quinnipiac |
87 |
| 7 |
Sacred Heart |
73 |
| 8 |
Marist |
58 |
| 9 |
Canisius |
52 |
| T10 |
Manhattan |
31 |
| T10 |
Rider |
31 |
| 12 |
Merrimack |
16 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Kelly Haggerty – Fairfield |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Kelly Haggerty* |
Attack |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Kacie Scarduzio |
Attack |
Gr. |
Iona |
| Brooke Molchanoff |
Attack |
So. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Mia Delmond |
Attack |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Maddie Fitzgerald |
Midfield |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Haley Burns |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Maddy Gill |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Katherine Shammas |
Defense |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Hailey Chester |
Defense |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Sydney Huhtala |
Defense |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Madelyn Breitbeil |
Defense |
Jr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Brynn Donnelly |
Specialist |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Shannon Alden |
Goalkeeper |
So. |
Quinnipiac |
Denotes unanimous selection*
The 2026 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship is a six-team, single-elimination championship taking place April 26 - May 3, 2026. The first round will be hosted by the #3 and #4 seeds, and the semifinals and championship will be hosted by the top overall seed. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wlax.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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