Women's Lacrosse | 1/20/2026 12:30:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher women's lacrosse team will begin the 2026 season ranked No. 11 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association's (IWLCA) Division III Top-25 poll, revealed by the organization on Monday. 

The Cardinals had one of the best seasons in program history in 2025, winning their 13th consecutive Empire 8 Conference title and matching the team's single-season wins record (19-1). They beat John Carroll in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 7 Salisbury in the Round of 16. Fisher was ranked No. 13 in the final IWLCA poll of the 2025 season. 

Fisher returns several key players from last year's team, including All-American defender Maddie Lowney, All-American goalkeeper Kaylee Gadol and 2025 All-E8 selections Kaley Griffin, Paige Miller and Kayla Schatz. That list also includes Chelsea Lopata, who finished first on the team in assists and third in total points in 2025. 

The 2026 season marks a new era for the Cardinals, now led by Marykate Edmunds '14, who played and coached at St. John Fisher under Linda Michele, who retired last spring as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history. Edmunds compiled a 56-20 (.737) record with two NCAA Tournament appearances at SUNY Geneseo, leading the Knights to at least 12 wins in each of her four seasons in charge of the program. 

The Cardinals open the 2026 season against the University of Rochester on Saturday, Feb. 21.