Wildcats Open the 2026 Regular Season at Home on Saturday

Saturday, February 7

Davidson, NC

5:00 PM

Davidson College

Wofford

Wildcats Open the 2026 Regular Season at Home on Saturday

2/6/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

DavidsonPhotos.com Sophie Majernik Interview Coach Wayne Interview

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson women's lacrosse team is set to open the 2026 regular season on Saturday, February 7 at 5 p.m. against the Wofford Terriers. The Wildcats were picked third in the A-10 preseason polls and landed three scholar-athletes on the preseason all-conference team. Meanwhile, the Terriers were projected fourth in the Big South preseason poll out of nine schools. Kim Wayne is in her 18^th season as head coach and the program has won 10 or more games in each of the previous five seasons.

"Our team culture has allowed us to maintain this recent success," said Head Coach Kim Wayne. "From our seniors all the way down to our juniors, sophomores, and freshman, they are bought in. We fight for each other. We play for each other."

The Wildcats return seven scholar-athletes who started at least 10 games last season. The 2026 roster features 11 seniors, seven juniors, eight sophomores, and nine freshmen. All the Davidson newcomers on this team are freshmen.

"The biggest thing that stands out is our depth," said Coach Wayne. "Our freshmen really showed what they are capable of during the fall and at the end of the fall season they didn't really act like freshmen. That is rare to have."

The offense is led by junior Jenna Skibbe at attack. Skibbe, a 2026 preseason all-conference selection, ranked third in the A-10 with 59 goals last season. This also set the Davidson women's lacrosse single season record for goals, which was previously held by Ann Fucigna ('13).

"It takes the six attackers around Jenna to help her produce the way that she has," said Coach Wayne. "Jenna can also catch anything that comes her way and that is a special and unique talent."

The midfield unit is headlined by senior Allie Hartnett, who also landed on the 2026 preseason all-conference team. The Ohio native is a three-time first-team all-conference selection. In 53 career games, Hartnett has 51 goals, 36 assists, 69 ground balls, 52 caused turnovers, and 92 draw controls.

"Being a true two-way midfielder at the Division I level is really hard and Allie has proven that she is capable of that," said Coach Wayne. "There's also a lot of potential right now within our midfield line to really play both ends of the field solidly. We've got Kella McGrail, Aeryn Curren, Mali White, and freshmen who are stepping in."

Davidson returns A-10 Goalkeeper of the Year Kayla Joyce. Joyce, a 2026 preseason all-conference selection, led the league and ranked seventh nationally with 9.10 goals against average mark.

"Who Kayla was when I recruited her, to where Kayla is now, is just a testament to her work ethic," said Coach Wayne. "She is that player who is going to be on the wall, on the field, in the weightroom, watching film, doing everything she can to not only improve her own abilities but to help our team. She will challenge you and push you."

Lydia Canavan and Mary Claire Hendrick also bring experience to the defense this season. In 17 starts last year, Canavan collected 15 caused turnovers and 30 ground balls. Hendrick made 16 starts last season and had 19 caused turnovers as well as 19 ground balls.

"We have a new defense that we are implementing, and I am really excited about it," said Coach Wayne. "We have a lot of talent and depth. It's going to be exciting to put different people in to give players a break. We want to come out on fire with pressure."

Sophie Majernik is expected to contribute on defense as well after battling an injury last season.

"It's been really fun for me to be able to come back and be in the full swing of things," said junior Sophie Majernik. "I learned a lot about myself, but also our team and lacrosse in general last year. I was able to pick up a lot from the sidelines and had a cool opportunity to see it all from the outside and be there for people in a different way."

Finally, the Wildcats return a bulk of last year's production at the draw control circle. Alanna Dumalac, Allie Hartnett, Shayna Brodman, and Aeryn Curren combined to record 127 of the team's 198 draw controls in 2025.

UP NEXT
Following Davidson's regular season opener against Wofford, the team is back in action at home on Wednesday, February 11 against Coastal Carolina. Opening draw is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Field 76.