Newtown, Pa. (Women's Ice Hockey) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026-27 women's ice hockey season, and back-to-back defending champion Wilkes is the heavy favorite to make it three straight.
Wilkes claimed all seven possible first-place votes from opposing coaches and totaled 49 points to top the preseason poll. The Colonels enter the season looking to defend their second consecutive MAC title, won last March with a 4-0 win over Arcadia that sent Wilkes back to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Arcadia was picked second with 42 points, followed by Lebanon Valley in third with 38 points. Hood rounds out the top four at 28 points, with Alvernia fifth at 26.
The full preseason order: Wilkes (49 points, 7 first-place votes), Arcadia (42), Lebanon Valley (38), Hood (28), Alvernia (26), Stevenson (21), King's (11) and Neumann (9).
Wilkes finished 2025-26 atop the standings as the No. 1 seed, going a dominant 20-1-0 in conference play for 60 points and a 25-1-1 overall record. Arcadia and Lebanon Valley both finished with 46 points, with Lebanon Valley claiming the No. 3 seed at 16-5-0 in conference (19-7-0 overall) and Arcadia the No. 2 seed at 15-5-1 (18-7-2 overall). Alvernia rounded out the tournament field as the No. 4 seed at 11-10-0 in conference (12-12-0 overall). Outside the postseason picture, Hood finished with 31 points at 10-9-2 (14-9-2 overall), Stevenson posted 17 points at 4-16-1 (4-20-1 overall), Neumann had 16 points at 5-16-0 (7-18-0 overall) and King's closed the year with 4 points at 1-20-0 (1-24-0 overall).
2026-27 Season Preview
Wilkes enters the season looking to become the first three-time MAC champion since the league began sponsoring a conference tournament in 2024-25. The Colonels placed five players on the 2025-26 All-MAC Team and bring back nearly all of their core, led by reigning MAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year Haylee Bouchard, a junior forward heading into her senior season. First Team sophomore-turned-junior forward Nina Hudakova, who set a new single-season program scoring record with 22 goals, and First Team sophomore-turned-junior defender Hannah Franz also return, along with MAC Championship MVP and Second Team goalie Audrey Milne, a junior heading into her senior year who led the conference in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.
Arcadia reached the championship match a year ago and returns the deepest group behind Wilkes. The Knights bring back 2025-26 MAC Rookie of the Year Chloe Makinson, a forward who earned Second Team honors as a first-year and now heads into her sophomore season, along with fellow Second Team returners Ava Glab, also a first-year-turned-sophomore, and junior-turned-senior forward Phoebe Roberts. Arcadia will need to replace First Team senior defender Leah Hatcher, who has since graduated.
Lebanon Valley sits right behind in third, anchored by reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Mia Frisoni, a junior goaltender heading into her senior season after a First Team year between the pipes. Second Team junior-turned-senior forward Anna Dale also returns, giving the Flying Dutchmen a strong one-two punch in net and up front.
Hood and Alvernia round out the group looking to crack the top of the standings. Hood returns Honorable Mention first-year-turned-sophomore defender Emily Cross, while Alvernia brings back Honorable Mention first-year-turned-sophomore defender Erin Schutt after reaching the 2025-26 tournament as the No. 4 seed.
Further down the poll, Stevenson, King's and Neumann will be looking to climb into postseason position. Stevenson returns Honorable Mention junior-turned-senior forward Emma DeMan, while King's brings back Honorable Mention sophomore-turned-junior goaltender Will McPherson.
2025-26 Championship Notes
Wilkes entered the 2026 MAC Championship as the No. 1 seed after a 20-1-0 run through conference play and claimed its second straight conference title with a 4-0 win over No. 2 seed Arcadia at the Toyota SportsPlex — the program's second conference championship in history. First-year forward Polina Telehina broke a scoreless tie late in the first period off a Haylee Bouchard assist, and Wilkes blew the game open with two goals in the first 2:14 of the second period from Renee Ng and Abby Bush before Lily Zingaro added an unassisted power-play goal in the third. Goaltender Audrey Milne turned aside 19 shots for the shutout, including nine in the third period, and was named MAC Championship MVP. The win sent Wilkes back to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second consecutive season.
2026-27 Schedule
- Season opener: October 30, 2026
- Conference play begins: November 6, 2026
- Postseason format: The top four teams in the MAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament
- Semifinals: February 27, 2027
- Championship: March 6, 2027