TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University field hockey team is beginning the 2026 season on the road. The Tigers are travelling south for the season opener at Appalachian State on Friday, August 28 at 6 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend against Davidson on Sunday, August 30 at noon.
The Tigers enter the 2026 season off a 6-12 record in 2025 and a 2-3 record in Coastal Athletic Association play for a fifth-place finish in the conference. Towson welcomes 14 newcomers alongside 11 returning players on the 2026 roster. Head coach
Katie Gerzabek Salem begins her fourth season at the helm with second year associate head coach (fourth year overall)
Noelle Frost and first year assistant coach
Lynea Gregory.
The returning Tigers are highlighted by two-time All-CAA First Team selection and 2026 Preseason All-CAA pick
Anouk Westerink, along with former CAA All-Rookie selections in
Olivia Miller and
Bailey Masten. Other returning contributors include sophomores
Ava McConnell and 2025 CAA Rookie of the Week selection
Alaina Lomonaco, and seniors
Lydia Bennett,
Olivia Handelong and
Gianna Tripodi.
The Tiger newcomers include five additions out of the transfer portal. Graduate transfers
Delfina Larripa and
Skylar Santucci come to Towson after each playing over 30 games for Kent State and Michigan State respectively in their undergraduate careers.
Josefina Sayal Aguirre joins the Tigers after playing 37 games in two seasons with Saint Francis.
Maddie Patton started 17 games and tied for the team-lead in goals in her lone season at Bellarmine and
Ella Jefferson closes out the transfer class after arriving from James Madison.
Towson also brought in nine freshmen including
Katie Compton,
Jillian LaBar and
Stevie Schultz who were all multi-time first team all-county selections in high school.
Grace Goodman and
Lily Ippolito are both high school county and district champions.
Ann Njoroge has played for the Scotland U16 National Team and
Olivia Thunnissen was invited to the Dutch U15 National Team selection camp.
Else Wismans and
Pien van der Horst both join the Tigers from the Netherlands U18 ranks.
Scouting the Opponents:
The Appalachian State Mountaineers enter the new season after setting a program record for wins with a 14-6 record in 2025. The Mountaineers return eleven players from the 2025 roster and feature nine newcomers. Sopia Baxter highlights the App State returners after scoring 14 goals for the Mountaineers in 2025. The Tigers and Mountaineers have played on the opening weekend for five straight seasons entering 2026.
The Davidson Wildcats are coming off a 10-9 record in the 2025 season and were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll. The Wildcats bring back 18 players from the 2025 roster with seven newcomers for 2026. Davidson features three Preseason All-A10 selections in Matilda Collins, Eva van der Kool, and Lourdes Wolf. The Tigers and Wildcats have faced each other on opening weekend each of the last four seasons.
