Field Hockey | 9/26/2025 12:23:00 AM

Friday, Sept 26 | Stonehill  | North Easton, Mass. | W.B. Mason Stadium | 3:00 P.M.

Sunday, Sept 28 | Merrimack | North Andover, Mass. |  Duane Stadium  | 12:00 P.M

OPENING STICK VS STONEHILL
The upcoming match on Friday between Saint Francis and Stonehill marks their fourth encounter since the series began in 2022. Saint Francis has secured victory in all previous matches.

THE WORD ON STONEHILL 
Coached by Danielle Aviani, Stonehill carries out a lineup that has two quick goal scorers in the sister duo of Havana and Siena De Roeck, who account for half of Stonehill's total points on the season.

THE LAST TIME WE MET STONEHILL
The Red Flash's last game against Stonehill was in 2024, and Saint Francis found themselves victorious in a 2-1 matchup. Notable moments from that game are Grace Reed making her first goal of the season and Dolores Zavaleta notching her third goal of the year.

OPENING STICK VS MERRIMACK
Sunday's game between Saint Francis and Merrimack marks just the fifth time in their all-time series, which started in 2021. The Red Flash lead the series with three consecutive wins.

THE WORD ON MERRIMACK
Coached by Rachel Perry, Merrimack features a team rich in young talent, including freshman Delaney Weiler, who currently leads the team in both goals and assists. While the year hasn't gone their way so far, this young team still has plenty to cover on the field.

THE LAST TIME WE MET MERRIMACK
The Red Flash last played Merrimack just last season, where Saint Francis won the match 5-1 in Loretto. During the game, Emilee Myers registered a goal and an assist, while Chloe Butz, Kylee Hager, and Madison Waldspurger also scored, contributing to a large win margin.

NEXT TIME OUT
Saint Francis returns to action next weekend for their third game in Loretto, as they take on Wagner College on Friday, Oct 3, at 3 pm. 

NEW TO THE 'LO
Second-year head coach Mackenzie Allessie added sophomore transfers Julia Barto (Indiana [Pa.]), Avery Bradburn (Richmond), Addie Sholly (Lehigh) along with freshmen Hailee Adams, Piper Almy, Delaney Amole, Ryan Engleman, Gianna Lambert, Morgan Smeltz to the 2025 roster. Haley Conners is not new to the 'Lo, but she is trading in her playing shoes for coaching ones as the field hockey graduate assistant.

TOO MANY ANTHEMS TO PLAY
Along with 19 players from the United States, head coach Mackenzie Allessie has two players from Argentina (Sofia Marciano, Josefina Sayal Aguirre), a player from Canada (Brooklyn Widdess), and one from Spain (Cruz Cánepa) for the 2025 season.

ABOUT THE COACH
Head coach Mackenzie Allessie is in her second season in Loretto after leading the team to a 10-8 overall record and 5-3 mark in league play. As a player, Allessie tallied 61 goals and 45 assists for 167 points in two seasons at Ohio State and three at Penn State. A five-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American and five-time NFHCA All-Region first-team selection, she helped the Nittany Lions to the NCAA national semifinals for the first time since 2007 and a share of the Big Ten Championship in 2022. Allessie, named to the All-Big Ten first team in all five seasons, was named the Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year during the 2021 spring season after posting 15 goals and five assists in 16 games for Ohio State. Allessie helped the United States win the bronze medal in the Pan American games in 2019 in Chile after becoming the youngest player named to the United States National Team in 2018. She registered the most goals scored by a member of Team USA during those 2019 games. She was also named to the United States National Team in 2022.

FORT DIGENOVA IN NET
Goalkeeper Mia DiGenova has continued to be a formidable presence in goal recently, earning recognition from the NEC once again as she was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive time, marking her fifth such honor in her career. In her last eight games, including Friday against NEC rival LIU, she made 40 saves on a total of 62 shots faced. Additionally, on Sunday, DiGenova earned her third of the season against St.Louis University, tying her career high set last year.