Friday, August 28
Davidson, NC
5 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
vs
Georgetown
Photo by: Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com
Field Hockey Opens Against Georgetown Friday
8/27/2026 3:59:00 PM | Field Hockey
The 2025 season was one to remember for the Davidson field hockey team, and the Wildcats are hopeful that 2026 will be just as impactful.
A year after posting their best record (10-9) in 15 years, returning to the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time in a decade and celebrating a half-century of the sport on campus, the Wildcats open the 2026 campaign against Georgetown Friday evening at Belk Turf Field (5 p.m.).
It's the first of three straight home games to start the season.
"This year, we have a really young team, and we're so excited to get going!" said Davidson coach Zoe Almquist, last season's A10 Coach of the Year, who is now in her eighth season. "There's a lot of talent, team buy-in and enthusiasm happening with this group. They've been a joy to coach so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this season. Team 51 has a chance to be the first-ever Davidson field hockey team to go back-to-back as A10 semifinal qualifiers, which is a super-exciting opportunity!"
2026 OUTLOOK
• Picked to finish fourth in the seven-team league, the Wildcats are tasked with replacing six starters and nearly 70 percent of their scoring, as graduated players accounted for 34 of 49 goals a year ago.
• Most of those — a single-season school record 21 — came off the stick of the now-graduated Sib Naaktgeboren, who became the first Wildcat to earn one of the league's major awards (Offensive Player of the Year), while collecting a list of honors.
• Davidson returns multiple A10 All-Conference honorees this year, including Matilda Collins, Lourdes Wolf and Avery Foster.
• Collins, a senior back, is a two-time A10 Second Team pick and three-year starter. She has started 51 games in her career and is also a scoring threat on attacking penalty corners. Along with Wolf, she scored five goals last season, the most among returners. She also made two defensive saves.
• Wolf, a sophomore forward, was a both an A10 First Team and A10 All-Rookie selection last season after scoring five goals and assisting on two others.
• Foster, a sophomore goalkeeper, was an A10 All-Rookie pick in 2025 and returns to the cage alongside junior Eleanor Larsen. The two split time a year ago.
• Collins, Wolf and junior Eva van der Kooi were named to the A10 Preseason All-Conference Team on Wednesday. A midfielder/forward, van der Kooi totaled 12 points a year ago, tying Wolf for third-most on the team. She scored four goals to go with four assists, the most among returners.
• Collins and Wolf were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Division I Watchlist on Thursday.
• Senior Liv Goeke rejoins Collins in the back after starting all 34 games the last two seasons and compiling three defensive saves a year ago.
• The Wildcats return numerous other contributors from last season, led by juniors Emma Datch and Hallie Slidell and sophomore Emilia Ostos.
• Eight newcomers have joined the program, including Penn State transfer Maren Brady, who attended the same high school as Almquist (Pioneer High in Ann Arbor, Mich.)
• Collins and fellow senior Emma Stevens are serving as team captains.
• The Wildcats are 24-28 (.462) the last three seasons, also including seven-win seasons in 2023 and 2024.
FAMILIAR FIRST FOE
• This marks the fifth straight season the Wildcats have Georgetown first on the schedule.
• Davidson posted debut wins over the Hoyas in 2022 and 2023 and led 5-1 in a 2024 home game before thunderstorms intervened and led to a no-contest.
• The Hoyas won 2-1 last year in a neutral site game at Towson.
A year after posting their best record (10-9) in 15 years, returning to the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time in a decade and celebrating a half-century of the sport on campus, the Wildcats open the 2026 campaign against Georgetown Friday evening at Belk Turf Field (5 p.m.).
It's the first of three straight home games to start the season.
"This year, we have a really young team, and we're so excited to get going!" said Davidson coach Zoe Almquist, last season's A10 Coach of the Year, who is now in her eighth season. "There's a lot of talent, team buy-in and enthusiasm happening with this group. They've been a joy to coach so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this season. Team 51 has a chance to be the first-ever Davidson field hockey team to go back-to-back as A10 semifinal qualifiers, which is a super-exciting opportunity!"
2026 OUTLOOK
• Picked to finish fourth in the seven-team league, the Wildcats are tasked with replacing six starters and nearly 70 percent of their scoring, as graduated players accounted for 34 of 49 goals a year ago.
• Most of those — a single-season school record 21 — came off the stick of the now-graduated Sib Naaktgeboren, who became the first Wildcat to earn one of the league's major awards (Offensive Player of the Year), while collecting a list of honors.
• Davidson returns multiple A10 All-Conference honorees this year, including Matilda Collins, Lourdes Wolf and Avery Foster.
• Collins, a senior back, is a two-time A10 Second Team pick and three-year starter. She has started 51 games in her career and is also a scoring threat on attacking penalty corners. Along with Wolf, she scored five goals last season, the most among returners. She also made two defensive saves.
• Wolf, a sophomore forward, was a both an A10 First Team and A10 All-Rookie selection last season after scoring five goals and assisting on two others.
• Foster, a sophomore goalkeeper, was an A10 All-Rookie pick in 2025 and returns to the cage alongside junior Eleanor Larsen. The two split time a year ago.
• Collins, Wolf and junior Eva van der Kooi were named to the A10 Preseason All-Conference Team on Wednesday. A midfielder/forward, van der Kooi totaled 12 points a year ago, tying Wolf for third-most on the team. She scored four goals to go with four assists, the most among returners.
• Collins and Wolf were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Division I Watchlist on Thursday.
• Senior Liv Goeke rejoins Collins in the back after starting all 34 games the last two seasons and compiling three defensive saves a year ago.
• The Wildcats return numerous other contributors from last season, led by juniors Emma Datch and Hallie Slidell and sophomore Emilia Ostos.
• Eight newcomers have joined the program, including Penn State transfer Maren Brady, who attended the same high school as Almquist (Pioneer High in Ann Arbor, Mich.)
• Collins and fellow senior Emma Stevens are serving as team captains.
• The Wildcats are 24-28 (.462) the last three seasons, also including seven-win seasons in 2023 and 2024.
FAMILIAR FIRST FOE
• This marks the fifth straight season the Wildcats have Georgetown first on the schedule.
• Davidson posted debut wins over the Hoyas in 2022 and 2023 and led 5-1 in a 2024 home game before thunderstorms intervened and led to a no-contest.
• The Hoyas won 2-1 last year in a neutral site game at Towson.
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Field Hockey
MF
/ Field Hockey
MF/B
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
MF
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
MF
/ Field Hockey
MF/F
/ Field Hockey
MF/F
/ Field Hockey
MF/B
/ Field Hockey
MF/B
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyTuesday, August 26
Friday, August 26
Wednesday, August 17
Friday, September 10
