GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's lacrosse team opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Feb. 7 when the Pioneers visit North Greenville University, the first of 17 matches on the season slate for the Pioneers.

Fifth-year head coach Jenna Agostino has a veteran squad as 19 players return from the 2025 team that went 8-9 overall and 4-7 in the South Atlantic Conference. A total of 11 starters are back for the Pioneers, Including eight of the 11 players who scored at least one goal during the 2025 campaign.

On attack, sophomore Elisha Stack (Lockport, Ill.) was third-team All-SAC last season after leading the Pioneers with 36 assists and 72 points, while ranking second on the team with 36 goals. She was second in the conference in assists and fifth in points, and tied the program single-game records for points and assists.

Sophomore Kayla Nuccio (Saint James, N.Y.) was third on the team in goals with 25 and in points with 34, and had 21 ground balls last season. Nuccio had two or more goals nine times in 17 matches, including four goals in her collegiate debut against Shorter.

Junior Zuza Stasiak (Poznan, Poland) had 14 goals and 36 draw controls last season, and has collected 27 goals and five assists across two seasons with 76 draw controls and 18 ground balls. Sophomore Nina Tantillo (Lindenburst, N.Y.) collected seven goals and an assist with 14 draw controls as a freshman.

Joining the program this season are freshmen Amaya Cadman (Sanford, Fla.), Paige Martin (Rockledge, Fla.) and Bridey Winterfield (Orland Park, Ill.).

At midfield, sophomore Mya Halladay (Naramata, B.C.) was third-team All-SAC after setting a program single-season records with 88 draw controls. Halladay was third in the SAC with 5.18 draw controls per game, and added 16 goals and five assists along with 28 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.

Senior Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg (Yarraville, Australia) had 13 goals and four assists last season and led the Pioneers with 34 ground balls. In three seasons, Carolin-Vandenberg has played all 49 matches and ranks fifth in career caused turnovers with 50, and is eighth in ground balls with 90. Junior Liberty Jones (Columbus, Ind.) was fifth on the team with 21 goals last season and had 19 ground balls and 35 draw controls, giving her 59 draw controls and 40 ground balls in two seasons with the Pioneers.

Sophomore Sophia Didzbalis (Woodstock, Ga.) was fourth on the Pioneers with 24 goals last season, and had 18 ground balls and 26 draw controls. Sophomore Kennedy Miesowitz (La Plata, Md.) had four ground balls and two caused turnovers in nine matches, while junior Alyssa Holden (Sharpsburg, Ga.) returns to action this season after making five starts in 2024, with six ground balls and five caused turnovers.

Newcomers at midfield for the Pioneers are freshmen Katelyn Hiltz (Vancouver, B.C.), Carmella Nilsson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), Laura Nance Pickens (Spartanburg, S.C.) and Reese Remaly (Mullica Hill, N.J.).

The Tusculum defense returns all eight players from last season, led by four-year starter Celeste Raya (Apopka, Fla.). The senior had 13 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers last season, and begins the season with 50 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers in 49 career matches. Sophomore Haley Cain (Evergreen, Colo.) started 16 matches last season and had 17 ground balls and four caused turnovers, and sophomore Caroline Rauhuff (Seymour, Tenn.) had 10 ground balls and five caused turnovers in 15 starts during the 2025 season. Another sophomore, Penelope Lee (Charlotte, N.C.) started 15 matches and had 11 ground balls along with eight caused turnovers.

Junior Sofia Rositano (St. Louis, Md.) had seven ground balls and a caused turnover in 10 matches last season, while junior Caitlyn Wysong (Greensboro, N.C.) returns to the field after having six caused turnovers and 13 ground balls as a freshman in 2024. Junior Rosalia DiPaolo (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had two ground balls and a caused turnover in seven appearances for the Pioneers last season. and sophomore Liberty Dill (Sevierville, Tenn.) will make her debut for the Pioneers after sitting out last season.

Freshmen defenders for the Pioneers are Kaitlyn Cooper (Memphis, Tenn.) and Marissa Fink (Pasadena, Md.).

In goal, senior Emily White (Roswell, Ga.) is a two-year starter who was team Most Valuable Player last season after breaking her own program record with 173 saves in a season. She was first in the conference with 10.18 saves per game also ranked among the SAC leaders in total saves (173, 3rd), save percentage (.435, 5th) and goals against average (13.16, 7th). She is the program career leader with 393 saves and ranks third in goals against average at 13.02.

A pair of freshmen will be in goal along with White, as Emery Dove (Fort Mill, S.C.) and Brianna Warren (Spartanburg, S.C.) join the Pioneer program.