WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's lacrosse team gets set to start the 2026 season this Saturday at Schmidt Stadium, now under the leadership of first-year head coach Taylor Drumheller after her hire in September 2025.

"We are pumped," Drumheller said of the upcoming season. "It's been a pretty long preseason, but we were able to scrimmage last Friday and we are ready."

This year's team consists of one graduate student, two seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, and four first-years.

Attacker Alexis Guttilla (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) is the team's lone graduate student, a veteran of 38 career games. She is joined by senior defenders Mara Adams (Mehoopany, PA/Tunkhannock Area) and Emily Jackson (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area). Adams led the team last season with 16 caused turnovers and led all field players with 25 ground balls. The junior class consists of midfielders Halie Albright (Taneytown, MD/Francis Scott Key) and Morgan Hettesheimer (Monroe Twp., PA/Tunkhannock Area), as well as the dual-sport duo of Lily Zingaro (Collingwood, ON) and Audrey Milne (London, ON).

Taylor Sparks (Monroeville, NJ/Woodstown) headlines the sophomore class after leading the team in draw controls in her first year with 43, adding 14 ground balls and nine total points. Joining her in the midfield is Megan Bell (Waterloo, ON/St. David Catholic), who tallied four points last season, as well as attacker Giavana Famiano (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township). The class is rounded out with defensive trio Amanda Galan (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Ardsley), Chole Bierfriend, and Ottlia Kedl, who matched Adams with 25 ground balls in her first year with 11 caused turnovers.

Drumheller hopes that this group of upperclassmen will help mentor the newcomers to the program and play as one strong unit this upcoming season.

"Obviously coming in from high school and the transition to college, teaching them the lay of the land but honestly it's one team, it's all of us, and we're really focused on competing as a whole," she said.

The team welcomes four first-years to the team in 2026, a group Drumheller is excited to see in action.

 "Our first years are really going to step up for us, especially in the midfield," she said. "They are bringing the grit, the energy, and they have nothing to lose. They just go out, have fun, compete, and see what they can bring to the table."

Three of the four new Colonels will be found in the midfield, in the form of Karinne Podwika (Duryea, PA/Pittston Area Senior), Nina-Lily Veale (Franklin, TN/Franklin), and Madyson Martinez (Owasso, OK/Owasso). Davyn Bonvie (Wyoming, PA/Dallas) rounds out the class in defense and in goal for Wilkes.

The season kicks off this Saturday at Schmidt Stadium as the Colonels host the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford for a 12:00 p.m. contest. Drumheller is excited to see the team in action and set the foundation for the season ahead.

"It's going to be a huge learning moment for us and seeing what we can do and continue to build throughout the season," she said.