Tallahassee, Fla. – Stetson women's lacrosse opens the 2026 season on the road Saturday, Feb. 7, with a 1:00 p.m. matchup against Florida State. The contest marks the inaugural game in Florida State program history.
The Hatters are coming off a 2025 campaign that featured five victories, highlighted by wins over Butler and San Diego State. Stetson will look to take the next step offensively this season after graduating players who accounted for 70 percent of last year's goals. Kathleen Nichols returns as the team's top scoring threat after posting 23 goals a season ago, while Anya Lucia Phillips and Emma Arrigo are back to anchor the draw unit after finishing second and third on the team with 41 and 34 draw controls, respectively.
Defensively, Maya Sellinger and Sydney Jenkins will be tasked with leading the back line, with Maddie Eckert returning in goal. Eckert led the Hatters with 53 ground balls in 2025 while making 157 saves on the season. Stetson also welcomes a number of new faces through its freshman class and transfer additions, adding depth across the field. As a team last season, the Hatters totaled 163 goals and 95 assists, posted a .429 shooting percentage and a .779 shots-on-goal rate, collected 234 ground balls, forced 115 turnovers, and recorded a .799 clear percentage.
Florida State enters its first season with a roster made up of 14 freshmen and 25 transfers, including student-athletes from Florida, Notre Dame, and Penn State. The Seminoles gained valuable experience during the fall, competing against programs such as Kennesaw State, Stetson, USF, and Florida in preparation for the spring. Florida State was selected to finish 12th in the ACC preseason poll, just ahead of California.
Saturday's matchup provides Stetson an early-season test against a new and talented opponent as the Hatters look to establish momentum and set the tone for the 2026 campaign.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
