Wheeling, W. Va. - After going on hiatus for five seasons, the Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse program made their return to campus in 2025, and battled all the way to the Mountain East Conference (MEC) semifinal game. They look to continue that tradition in 2026 and were rewarded for their strong first season when the conference released their annual Women's Lacrosse preseason poll, as voted on by the conference coaches, on Wednesday. The Cardinals took the #3 spot in this season's poll, earning 17 points after a strong return season.
Wheeling hit the ground running on their return to play, earning a 22-9 win over Allegheny College to open the year, before beating Tiffin 17-14. However, they would hit a tough stretch at the end of their non-conference schedule, entering MEC play with a record of 2-3 overall. Just like they did in the non-conference schedule, they began to turn heads in MEC play, defeating West Virginia Wesleyan 26-4, and following that up with a 13-8 win over Davis & Elkins. They would end up sweeping the season series over both teams, and falling in the season series to Charleston and Frostburg State, earning the #4 seed in the MEC Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The Cardinals opened tournament play with an 11-8 victory over Davis & Elkins, but their run would come to an end the next week, falling to the eventual MEC Champions Frostburg State in the semifinals.
As they enter their second season since the hiatus, the Cardinals bring back a lot of experience, with all four All-MEC honorees from a season ago returning. The offensive end will be led by First Team All-MEC honoree Trinity Rose, who set the Cardinal's single-season ground ball, caused turnover, and draw control record a season ago. Rose would also be the Cardinal's leader in both goals and points during the year, and will look to be all over the field once again for the Cardinals. After splitting time last season, Giovanna Perkins will take a leadership role in net, after earning the MEC All-Freshman team honors a season ago. Along with the veteran presence, Head Coach Faith Flanagan has brought in a class of 11 freshmen and transfer players, who look to make an immediate impact on the field.
Leading the 2026 MEC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll is the defending MEC Champions Frostburg State, earning five first place votes and 25 points from the conference. The University of Charleston would receive the other first place vote, receiving 20 total points, and Wheeling's 17 point showing would round out the top three. The rest of the 2026 MEC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll is listed below:
1. Frostburg State - (5) 25
2. Charleston - (1) 20
3. Wheeling - 17
4. Davis & Elkins - 13
5. Point Park - 10
6. West Virginia Wesleyan - 5
The Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse team opens the 2026 season on Saturday, February 14th, when they host Gannon at Bishop Schmitt Field.
