COLONIA, N.J. – Mercy University Field Hockey Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola has been named the East Coast Conference (ECC) Field Hockey Coach of the Year, headlining six Mavericks named to the ECC All-Conference Teams, as announced by the conference office earlier today. Juniors Kaylise McClure (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) and Charlotte Sabert (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) and freshman Addison Testa (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) were named First Team All-Conference and senior Alyssa Benvengo (East Islip, N.Y./Molloy University), junior Madison Brefka (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) and sophomore Gwendolyn Smith (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) earned Second Team All-Conference.
In her sixth season leading the Mavericks, Spinazzola was selected as the ECC Coach of the Year after guiding Mercy to a 9-7 overall record and 8-2 mark in the ECC, earning the top seed in the 2026 ECC Field Hockey Championship field and a share of the 2026 ECC Regular Season title. Her Mavericks ended the regular season riding a seven-game winning streak overall and won eight straight ECC league games to cap off the campaign. Spinazzola's squad led the ECC in defensive saves, save percentage, and shot percentage during the season. Mercy has set a single-season program record in wins.
McClure receives All-Conference honors for the first time in her career. The junior has been named ECC Goalkeeper of the Week four times and is 9-7 this season with 197 saves, a .845 save percentage, three shutouts and a 2.27 goals-against average. The goalkeeper recorded her 200th and 300th career saves during the season and has set a single-season school record in saves. McClure is ranked No. 2 nationally in saves per game (12.31) and No. 3 in save percentage (.845). The junior had a career-high 29 saves against Pace on September 3rd and had nine games with double-digit saves. McClure leads the ECC in save percentage and is second in goals-against average and saves per game.
Sabert takes home All-Conference accolades for the first time. The junior has been named ECC Player of the Week two times and has a team-high-tying seven goals with two goals and 16 points. The forward scored a season-high two goals in the win over D'Youville on October 24th. Sabert also had a goal and an assist against Roberts Wesleyan on October 6th and scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over Dominican on October 17th. The junior is fourth in the ECC in goals and sixth in points.
Testa receives All-Conference honors following her first season as a Maverick. The freshman has been named ECC Rookie of the Week once and has a team-high 17 points on six goals and five assists. The forward scored a career-high two goals in the win at Molloy on November 7th and had a goal and an assist against Roberts Wesleyan on October 6th. Testa also scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over D'Youville on October 24th. The freshman is fifth in the ECC in points, and third in assists.
Benvengo takes home All-Conference honors for the first time. The senior has a team-high-tying seven goals with 14 points and a team-high three-game winning goals. Benvengo scored a season-high two goals in the win over St. Thomas Aquinas on October 20th and scored the game-winning goals against Molloy (Oct. 10) and Roberts Wesleyan (Oct. 28). The senior is currently tied for fourth in the ECC in goals.
Brefka receives All-Conference for the first time. The junior has started all 16 games and has five goals, two assists, 12 points, and two game-winning goals. Brefka scored a season-high two goals in the win over Molloy on October 10th and also scored goals against St. Michael's (Sept. 13), Franklin Pierce (Sept. 19) and Dominican (Oct. 31). The junior also had assists against St. Thomas Aquinas (Nov. 4) and Molloy (Nov. 7). Brefka scored the game-winning goals against Franklin Pierce and Dominican.
Smith is named All-Conference for the first time. The sophomore has started all 16 games and has two goals, three assists, seven points, and seven defensive saves. The two-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week leads the team in defensive saves and is second on the team in assists. Smith is second in the ECC and fourth nationally in defensive saves. The sophomore scored goals against St. Michael's and Molloy and had an assist against Franklin Pierce, St. Thomas Aquinas and Dominican. Smith had a season-high two defensive saves against Molloy on October 10th.
