BETHLEHEM, Pa. –– For an exceptional sixth time in seven seasons, American University field hockey has found itself atop the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Jordan Reicher was tabbed the Patriot League's Preseason Forward of the Year and Emilia Winkler the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. Classmate Sophie Willemse joins the duo on the Preseason All-League Team.
 
This is the 17th time since 2004 that AU is topping the Preseason Poll. The Eagles received five first-place votes from the conference's head coaches and led the league by a wide margin, with 35 points total.
 
Lafayette and Boston University both teams that played in the Patriot League Championship game last November, followed up with 30 and 27 votes respectively and one first place vote apiece. They were trailed by Bucknell with 22 points. Holy Cross (15), Lehigh (10), and Colgate (8), rounded out the preseason poll.
 
This is Reicher's first preseason honor, but the senior striker is no stranger to the spotlight after the 2025 season. The Californian started and played in every contest in 2025 and spent the duration of the season as a threat in the circle. Reicher earned her first Patriot League Major Award, the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year, her first appearance on an NFHCA All-Region team, taking a spot on the First Team, and her first All-American honor, finding a spot on the NFHCA Third Team All-America. Academically, she also nabbed a spot on the Academic All-Patriot League team.
 
In 2024, as a sophomore, Reicher was named to the All-League Second Team before being bumped up to the First Team in 2025; she also was named to the PL Championship All-Tournament Team. She finished the 2025 regular season leading the Eagles and the Patriot League in goals (13) and in game-winning goals (4). She was third in the league in shots on goal (33) and in points (27).
 
Being named the 2026 PL Preseason Midfielder of the Year is Winkler's second preseason honor, the senior was named to the 2025 Preseason All-League team. After making appearances on the 2025 PL First Team–her second recognition to a post-season team in her three seasons at American–and on the 2025 PL All-Tournament Team, Winkler also earned a spot on the NFHCA Second Team All-Region. Winkler was named to the Patriot League Second Team her rookie season (2023) as well.
 
In 2025, the midfielder led the team in assists with nine, including four in a single game against Towson and two against Bucknell. She added a goal to finish the regular season with 11 points. Winkler was third in the league in the assist category and tied for fifth on the team in points. She started and played in all 18 of AU's games across the season, averaging over 56 minutes per contest and was a crucial part of both penalty corner units.
 
Willemse, like her fellow honorees, started in every contest in 2025. The defensive midfielder finished third on the team in points with five goals and six assists, including two game-winning goals. She was a member of the Patriot League All-League Second Team and earned a spot on the Academic All-Patriot League team in 2025. An unfaltering staple of AU's center of the field formation, Willemse averaged over 50 minutes per game and led the Eagles as one of the season's captains along with Winkler.

The 2026 season opener will be on Friday, August 28 and will see the Eagles squaring off with the ACC's Cal. The Bears and the Eagles have met five times before, with AU carrying a 3-2 advantage over Cal. American will then take on another ACC school, Stanford on Sunday, August 30 before coming home to take on Richmond on Friday, September 4 at 3 p.m.
 
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2026 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American, 35 points, (5 first-place votes)
2. Lafayette, 30 (1)
3. Boston University, 27 (1)
4. Bucknell, 22
5. Holy Cross, 15
6. Lehigh, 10
7. Colgate, 8
 
2026 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Forward of the Year – Jordan Reicher, American, Sr., F
Preseason Midfielder of the Year – Emilia Winkler, American, Sr., M
Preseason Defender of the Year – Lena Thedrian, Lafayette, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Sarah Althouse, Bucknell, Sr., GK
 
2026 Preseason Field Hockey All-Patriot League Team
Jordan Reicher, American, Sr., F
Sophie Willemse, American, Sr., M
Emilia Winkler, American, Sr., M
Nicky Lauro, Boston University, Sr., M
Caroline O'Brien, Boston University, Gr., F
Sarah Althouse, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Ryane Fisahn, Bucknell, Sr., F
Sally Hunter, Bucknell, Jr., D/M
Morgan Willis, Colgate, Sr., F
Maguire Sturgis, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Sr., F
Lena Thedrian, Lafayette, Sr., D
Rosalie van Gool, Lafayette, Sr., M/D