The Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team opens the 2026 season on Friday, hitting the road to take on Lehigh in the season opener.
 
St. Joe's is coming off an 11-8 campaign in 2025, finishing 9-1 in Atlantic 10 play and advancing to the Atlantic 10 Championship game. The nine conference wins set a program record, while the Hawks have now posted winning records in each of the last eight seasons.
 
Atlantic 10 play begins on March 8, as Saint Joseph's opens conference action against Duquesne. The top six teams in the league will advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship, hosted by Davidson from April 30–May 3.
 
Head coach Alex Kahoe enters her 12th season at the helm of the program. Katie Detwiler begins her third year as an assistant coach after a standout playing career at Loyola Maryland, while associate head coach Nikki Grote returns for her second season on Hawk Hill.
 
The Saint Joseph's attack returns a familiar look, led by 2025 Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Alexa Capozzoli. The senior attacker is seven assists shy of tying the program's career assists record after setting a new single-season mark with 57 assists last season. Capozzoli led the team with 84 points in 2025. Kate Fuhrman joins her in the attack, contributing 28 goals and 29 assists last season to become the newest member of the Hawks' 100-point club. Olivia McCloskey and Riley Miller are poised to take on expanded roles following the departures of Maddie Yoder and Sarah Groark, after combining for 36 points (22 goals, 14 assists) a season ago.
 
Emma Yoder looks to headline a deep Hawk midfield after earning Atlantic 10 Second Team All-Conference honors as a freshman in 2025. Yoder scored 22 goals in her debut season. Ellie Webb, Megan Sanelli, Elizabeth McGurk and Kaitlin Nieczpiel all return after making at least 10 appearances last season. Saint Joseph's also welcomes back Kate Kaptrosky and Devon Maillet, who each missed most or all of last season due to injury. Machaela Henry joins the Hawks as a transfer from Xavier, where she earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors.
 
Saint Joseph's enters the 2026 season without reigning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Bella Miceli, along with graduates Quinn Howe, MaryRose Berry, Bella Schorr and Lizzie McLaughlin. Claire Fowler returns as the lone starter from last year's defense after earning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors in 2025. Sophie Stanislawcyzk and Kaylyn Williams add experience to the group after missing last season due to injury.
 
In goal, Liana Moli leads a trio of Hawk goalkeepers competing for the starting role, joined by junior Annalise Thaler and sophomore Tess Talbot. The group looks to replace program all-time saves leader Jorden Concordia, who concluded her career with 731 saves. Moli has made 10 appearances in net during her time on Hawk Hill, while Thaler appeared in three games last season.
 
Five freshmen look to make an immediate impact for the Hawks in 2026, including Tessa Colasante, Savannah Saunders, Maria Ziff, Caroline Spears and Kadi Rine.