COLONIA, N.J. – Mercy University Women's Lacrosse sophomore Ashlinn Kelly (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) has been named the East Coast Conference (ECC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and senior Olivia LaMonica (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) has been tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Mavericks have been picked to finish first in the ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office earlier today.
Mercy received four first-place votes to top the poll with 45 points. Molloy received three first-place votes to place second in the poll with 44 points.
Kelly is named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after being named IWLCA Second Team All-Region, ECC Midfielder and Rookie of the Year and First Team All-ECC last season. The midfielder ended the 2025 season with 48 goals, 17 assists, 65 points, 29 caused turnovers, 23 ground balls and 15 draw controls. Last season, Kelly was named ECC Rookie of the Week five times and ranked fifth in the ECC in goals, sixth in points and fourth in caused turnovers.
LaMonica earns Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the first time after being named Second Team All-ECC last season. The one-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week and IWLCA Division II Defensive Player of the Week last season went 10-7 in goal with 120 saves, a .448 save percentage and 10.16 goals-against average in 2025. The senior led the ECC in goals-against average and was second in save percentage.
The Mavericks are picked first in the preseason poll after ending the 2025 season 10-7, falling in the ECC Championship Final. Last season, Mercy won their fifth ECC Regular Season Championship. Mercy looks to qualify for the ECC Championship for the 10th straight season and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Mercy returns six ECC All-Conference selections from a year ago, highlighted by Kelly and LaMonica. Also returning for the Mavericks is senior Emily Marino who was named First Team All-ECC last season after recording 24 caused turnovers and 32 ground balls last season. Junior Riley Wallace returns after being named First Team All-ECC a year ago. Wallace had 47 goals, 11 assists and 58 points last season. Senior Maeghan Callow is back after being named Second Team All-ECC. Callow ended the 2025 season with 17 goals, eight assists, 25 points and 67 draw controls. Sophomore Kayden Meyer returns after being named Second Team All-ECC last season. Meyer finished the 2025 season with 38 goals, 14 assists and 52 points.
Head Coach Dawn Sachs and the Mavericks open their 2026 season on Tuesday, February 17th when they play at Georgian Court at 2 p.m.
